Wataru Endo has been forced to withdraw from Japan duty on the evening of the World Cup, announcing his retirement from international football.
Wataru Endo was hoping to make his return to the pitch for Japan’s World Cup campaign. However, the Liverpool midfielder has failed to overcome his injury issues and has pulled out of the squad.
The 33-year-old suffered an ankle injury away at Sunderland in February, which ruled him out for the season. Endo was set to play against Red teammates in Group F, though his World Cup dream has ended.
The Japanese midfielder was rarely called upon under Arne Slot in the two seasons he was at the club. In the first season, he was used as a substitute to see out games, but that altered in 2025/26. He only featured eight times in the Premier League last season, where he only started once.
Japan confirmed that the Liverpool player was training away from the main squad as he was still fighting for fitness. There was hope he would feature against the Netherlands on Sunday, which includes three players from the Anfield outfit. However, they confirmed he has failed to reach the required fitness and has been replaced by Shuto Machino.
Japan have arguably their greatest national side setup ever, with extremely talented individuals in their team. While the group also included Tunisia and Sweden, there was real optimism for this tournament. Endo’s experience will be a significant miss for Samarai Blue, with him playing either across the middle or at the back. With the midfielder also being 33-years-old, it may have been his last chance to represent his country at the World Cup.
A timeline hasn’t been set for Endo at this stage, though there will be speculation over what happens at Liverpool. With Andoni Iraola’s appointment, it will remain to be seen if he is still at Liverpool ahead of the new season.
Endo future at Liverpool
While Curtis Jones has been linked with Inter Milan, extra midfielders may still be forced to find a new home. Kopites adore the Japanese international for his attitude and the displays for the Merseyside club. He showed that in the game, he got injured at the Stadium of Light, as he played on with the injury. However, despite the love, he still may be searching for a new club later this summer.
Preseason will be key for Endo to make an impression on the new Spanish manager. Under the Dutch head coach, he wasn’t used due to his style to keep possession effectively, something Slot didn’t believe he could do, as he expected. Now with Iraola, they will look to press opponents high and look to attack fast.
The Anfield outfit have also been linked to a plethora of midfielders at the current stage. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has been mentioned many times over the past week. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton also seems to be another consideration from the Premier League. Liverpool were quite light in the middle of the park to begin with; therefore, there could be extra options.
With the club having a focus on four competitions next season, a big squad is required if they are to succeed at multiple levels. However, Endo may still find himself without a lot of opportunities on the field. Much will be of his style and how he can feature on Iraola’s side over the next few weeks.
Pulling out of the World Cup is a big blow to Endo, after setting his sights on the tournament. There will be hope from Kopites that their players can avoid any other potential fitness problems during the World Cup.
Endo’s farewell statement
Taking to social media to clarify his situation and bid farewell to the fans, Endo explained:
“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?”
Endo’s departure marks the end of a stellar international career. Since making his debut for the Samurai Blue in 2015, he earned 73 caps, scored four goals, and took over the captaincy following the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Remarkably, his exit means Japan has lost two captains in just over a week:
Maya Yoshida: The LA Galaxy stalwart and Endo’s predecessor officially used the May 31 friendly against Iceland as a farewell match, having been largely phased out of the squad after Qatar.
The New Armband: Reports suggest Ajax centre-back Kō Itakura is favored to take over as the permanent captain, though attackers Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Dōan have also captained the side over the past year.
Endo’s absence brings the number of Liverpool players participating in this summer’s tournament across Mexico, Canada, and the USA down to just seven. The midfielder enters the final year of his current contract with the Premier League club, which expires next summer.
