With Endo officially out of the picture, the Japan coaching staff has moved quickly to fill the void in the engine room. Shuto Machino, the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder, has been officially called up to take Endo’s place in the 26-man roster. While Machino brings different qualities to the side, the loss of Endo's experience and leadership is a significant blow to Japan’s tactical setup.
Japan find themselves in Group F for the World Cup, alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Endo, who has earned 73 international caps for the Samurai Blue, would have brought crucial tournament experience to the squad. He previously featured in four matches during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Japan's impressive run was ultimately cut short in the round of 16 following a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.