Japan captain Wataru Endo has officially withdrawn from the 2026 World Cup squad after failing to recover from a long-term injury, marking the end of his international career. The Liverpool midfielder confirmed that he will no longer represent his national team, as he was unable to regain full fitness ahead of the tournament in North America.

Endo’s ongoing injury has dashed his World Cup dreams. The 33-year-old sustained a serious foot injury during a Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in February. That setback prematurely ended his domestic season, with the midfielder spending the remaining months undergoing intensive rehabilitation while watching from the sidelines.

There seemed to be a ray of hope when Endo was included in Japan’s preliminary squad for the tournament, and he even made it back to Liverpool’s matchday squad as an unused substitute in their 1-1 draw with Brentford on the final day of the season. However, after joining the national camp in Nashville, Tennessee, it became evident that he was not physically ready to compete at the highest level, forcing his withdrawal from the competition.

In a development that surprised many supporters, Endo paired the announcement of his withdrawal with his decision to retire from international football. The former Stuttgart player, who served as a key presence in midfield and an influential leader for Japan, revealed that he is stepping away from representing his country sooner than expected.

In an emotional statement, Endo shared: “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 dream of ‘winning the World Cup’ into something we can say naturally.”

Despite his personal disappointment, Endo’s message remained focused on the team’s future. He expressed his faith in Japan’s current squad and encouraged fans to rally behind them as they take on the challenge in North and Central America.

Endo added: “The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us things we have never seen before. With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team. From here on, I’ll be supporting the Japan national team as one of the fans. The moment when Japan wins the World Cup will surely come someday. Let’s believe in that and cheer them on together. Let’s unite Japan’s strength 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.”

Following Endo’s departure, Japan’s coaching staff moved swiftly to name a replacement. Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino has been called up to fill Endo’s spot in the 26-man squad. Although Machino brings his own set of skills, Japan will undoubtedly miss Endo’s tactical intelligence and leadership on and off the pitch.

Japan will compete in Group F of the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Endo, who has earned 73 international caps for the Samurai Blue, would have provided invaluable experience for the team. He played in four matches during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Japan’s inspiring journey ended in the round of 16 after a narrow penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.