Wataru Endo has withdrawn from Japan’s World Cup squad due to injury and subsequently announced his retirement from international football.
The 33-year-old had hoped to captain Japan at this summer’s tournament after recovering from a foot injury suffered while playing for Liverpool in February.
Despite concerns over his fitness, Endo was initially included in Hajime Moriyasu’s squad. However, Japan confirmed on Thursday that he has now been forced to pull out of the tournament.
Wataru Endo leaves the international stage having earned 73 caps for the Samurai Blue and having represented his country at multiple major tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He has been replaced in the squad by Shuto Machino.
Endo posted on social media: “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
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