Wataru Endo withdraws from the World Cup and announces his international retirement
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
The Liverpool midfielder, 33, has not recovered from foot surgery and is withdrawing from the Japanese selection before the World Cup. Kaoru Mitoma is also out. Shuto Machino joins the squad to replace him.
Japan loses its captain. Wataru Endo, 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder, has given up his place in the 2026 World Cup squad due to injury and announced his international retirement.
Endo, who has not played a club match since February following foot surgery, however returned to play the first half of Japan's friendly against Iceland at the end of May. Unable to regain sufficient fitness, the player – author of four goals in 73 caps – was forced to withdraw from the group. He is replaced in the list by striker Shuto Machino, loaned last season to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
“Since my injury, I have done everything I can so far, I have absolutely no regrets. The current team is really great. I believe she will overcome difficulties and show us things we have never seen,” Endo said while justifying his decision.
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This is a new blow for Japan, already deprived of Kaoru Mitoma. The Brighton striker, 29, injured his hamstring in the 3-0 win over Wolverhampton and missed his club's last two Premier League games against Leeds and Manchester United.
Japan, which appears in Group F of the World Cup, opens the competition against the Netherlands on June 14, then will face Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden on June 26. Coach Hajime Moriyasu made his group official on May 15, including Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ao Tanaka (Leeds) and Daizen Maeda (Celtic) among those called up.
The 2026 World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, will take place jointly in the United States, Canada and Mexico.