Japan Captain Wataru Endo Withdraws from World Cup 2026 Due to Injury

The Samurai Blue will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup without their influential captain, Wataru Endo. In a sudden announcement on Thursday, the veteran midfielder confirmed he would not participate in the global showpiece due to a persistent left-foot injury. Adding to the surprise, Endo also declared his immediate retirement from international duty, concluding a distinguished decade-long career with the national team just three days before Japan's opening fixture.

Endo's absence is a major setback for Japan, who are set to face the Netherlands this Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Dallas in a highly anticipated Group F encounter. The 33-year-old Liverpool star had been hoping to feature in his third World Cup, having represented his nation in both the 2018 and 2022 editions. However, an injury sustained during his Premier League season with Liverpool ultimately proved insurmountable, despite his efforts to return to fitness.

The injury, which required surgery in February after a match against Sunderland, continued to bother him even after his return for a pre-World Cup friendly against Iceland on May 31. Taking to social media, Endo expressed his mixed emotions, stating, "Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever." He acknowledged the frustration of missing the tournament but emphasized his pride in the team's collective progress since the previous World Cup in Qatar.