Monterrey, June 12: Japan’s national football team has suffered a significant setback ahead of their opening match in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Team captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the tournament due to a foot injury. The 33-year-old midfielder also announced his retirement from international football.
Masakuni Yamamoto, Japan’s national team director, confirmed that Endo has not fully recovered from his injury and will not be part of the World Cup squad. Japan is set to kick off their campaign against the Netherlands on June 14.
Endo is one of the most experienced players on the Japanese team. He captained the team throughout the World Cup qualifying campaign, playing a crucial role in midfield. He underwent foot surgery at the end of February and has been striving to regain his fitness since then. Despite his efforts, he has been unable to return to match fitness.
Endo made a comeback on May 31 in a friendly match against Iceland, participating in the first half. However, concerns about his fitness persisted. During the World Cup camp, he trained separately from the other players.
There were hopes that he would be fit in time, but ultimately, he had to make the decision to withdraw from the tournament. The Japan Football Association has replaced Endo with forward Shuto Machino. Center-back Itakura has been appointed as the new captain, having previously led the team in a match against Colombia in March.
Following his exit from the World Cup, Endo also announced his retirement from international football. He expressed that he had made every possible effort to return after his injury and has no regrets. While he feels sadness about not being able to play in the World Cup, he takes pride in contributing to the team’s progress since the Qatar World Cup.
Endo expressed full confidence in the current Japanese team, stating they are very strong and can face any challenge. He will now support the team as a fan rather than a player. Wataru Endo has played 73 international matches for Japan, playing a key role in several memorable victories. Japan, now under new leadership, aims to perform strongly in Group F.
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