Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the Japan squad for the 2026 World Cup due to injury.
Wataru Endo has officially retired from international football after being withdrawn from Japan’s squad for the 2026 World Cup due to injury.
The Liverpool midfielder had been managing fitness issues heading into the tournament, having undergone foot surgery in February following an injury sustained against Sunderland.
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He did not feature again for Liverpool last season. Despite those concerns, Endo was initially included in Hajime Moriyasu’s squad and made a brief return to action in a friendly against Iceland at the end of May, where he played 45 minutes.
That match ultimately proved to be his final appearance for the national team. He has been replaced in the squad by Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino. Endo has racked up 73 appearances for Japan and scored four goals.
Japan have been drawn in Group F for the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Endo would have provided valuable tournament experience to the squad.
He featured in all four of Japan’s matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where their impressive run ended in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.
Endo posted on X: “As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever.
“Of course, there’s frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I’m proud of how we’ve grown together since the Qatar World Cup—me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of “winning the World Cup” into something we can say as a matter of course. The current team is truly a wonderful team.
“I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we’ve never seen before. With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team.
“So from here on, I’ll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans. The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday.
“Let’s believe in that and cheer them on together. And let’s unite Japan’s strength as one so that moment comes in this tournament—everyone, let’s take on the North and Central America World Cup together!! Everyone, give it everything you’ve got🔥 Wataru Endo.”
発表にあった通りW杯メンバーから離脱する事になりました。
怪我をしてからここまで、自分にできることは全てやってきたので何も後悔はありません。…
— 遠藤 航 (Wataru Endo) (@wataru0209) June 11, 2026