Wataru Endo, the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder who captained Japan through some of the most significant stretches of their recent footballing history, has officially retired from international duty. The announcement came on June 11, 2026, just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A persistent foot injury, one that first surfaced during a match against Sunderland back in February, made the decision for him.

The injury that ended everything

Endo went down during the Sunderland fixture in February 2026 with what turned out to be a season-ending foot injury. Surgery followed shortly after, and what began was a months-long race against the clock to get fit for the World Cup.

Despite what was described as close monitoring of his recovery, a setback during Japan’s final pre-tournament preparations in Nashville killed any remaining hope.

Endo confirmed his withdrawal from the squad and, in the same breath, announced that his international career was over. He expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his time with the national team and said he would be supporting the Samurai Blue as a fan going forward.

What this means for Japan

Japan’s coaching staff moved quickly after Endo’s withdrawal. Shuto Machino, a forward currently playing for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, received the call-up to fill the vacant roster spot. This is a positional mismatch — Machino is an attacker replacing a defensive midfielder.

The Netherlands awaits in the opening match, and that’s not a fixture where you want to be scrambling to replace your midfield anchor.