Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo made his first appearance in three months today, in a timely World Cup injury boost for Japan ahead of the summer's major tournament
14:24, 31 May 2026
Wataru Endo during Japan 1-0 Iceland.
Wataru Endo during Japan 1-0 Iceland.(Image: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo made his first appearance for three months today, in a timely injury boost ahead of the World Cup.
Endo was stretchered off against Sunderland in February and didn't play another game for Liverpool before the season ended. He was back on the bench against Brentford, but wasn't brought on by Arne Slot.
But having been named in Japan's squad to head to the US, Canada and Mexico, Endo played 45 minutes as his country beat Iceland 1-0 in a friendly in Tokyo. Koki Ogawa, the NEC Nijmegen forward, scored the winning goal in the 87th minute.
Japan will take on the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden at the World Cup. Iceland, meanwhile, missed out on qualifying, but will take on Argentina before the competition starts.
Since Endo left Liverpool to join up with his international teammates, Slot has been fired by the Reds, with an official statement being released on Saturday confirming the news.
Endo has one more year left on his Liverpool contract having been at the club for three years. But he has barely featured having arrived as a squad option.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Wataru Endo of Liverpool walks out to warm up prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brentford at Anfield on May 24, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Wataru Endo has a year remaining on his contract at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
"It's a difficult moment for me because I haven't played a lot of games this season and also last season as well," Endo told FIFPRO's Footballers Unfiltered recently.
"But I think the most important thing is to be ready for every game. Even if you play only five or 10 minutes, you have to play well on the pitch.
"So, that's what I tried [in] the last few seasons. I feel like I get a little bit older because I'm already 33 years old and I don't play a lot of games, but I still feel like I can play every game for Liverpool or something like that.
"So, I think to stay positive is also important for me to achieve something.
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"I've started thinking about [life] after my career as well but it doesn't mean I stop playing football next year or something like that.
"I'm interested in being a manager and I'm also interested in the business of football. I have two of my own books. The latest one is talking about football but also I talk about mindset.
"Not only as a football player but everyone faces difficult situations in your life, then how you can manage that situation or something like that."
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Liverpool.com says: It might be the right time for Endo to move on. If it isn't this year, then it will be next year, and there might be more interest in the 33-year-old now before he gets another year older.