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Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endō has announced he will miss the 2026 World Cup, pulling out of Japan's squad and officially stepping away from international football on the very day the tournament begins.
The 33-year-old had ankle surgery in February and was sidelined for the remainder of the 2025–26 season with the Reds, only making it back to Arne Slot's bench on the final day of the campaign. Endō did not feature in Liverpool's 1–1 draw against Brentford, but he still linked up with the Japan national team, appearing to have recovered from his injury.
He came on for 45 minutes in Japan's 1–0 win over Iceland on Sunday, May 31, but suffered a fresh setback that has ruled him out of this summer's major tournament, robbing him of a World Cup farewell before his retirement.
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Ajax defender Ko Itakura has been handed the captain's armband, while Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Shūto Machino has been called up to replace Endō in Hajime Moriyasu's squad.
Endō Confirms Japan Retirement in Heartfelt Statement
Following the Japan national team's official announcement, Endō turned to social media to address the injury news and reveal his immediate retirement from international duty after 73 caps and 11 years of service.
"As has been announced, I will be withdrawing from the World Cup squad," Endō wrote in a detailed post on X. "Since my injury, I've given absolutely everything I had up to this point, so I have no regrets at all.
"Of course, it's disappointing not to be able to take part in this World Cup, but more than anything, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup—me as captain, leading this team and making our goal of 'winning the World Cup' something we can say with complete conviction.
"This current squad is truly a remarkable team. I know they will overcome every challenge and show us things we've never witnessed before.
"With this tournament, I will be retiring from the national team. From this point on, I'll be cheering for Japan as one of the supporters.
"The day the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely arrive. Let's believe in that and cheer them on together. And let's channel all of Japan's strength into one so that moment comes in this very tournament—everyone, let's take on the North and Central America World Cup together!!"
Liverpool's World Cup Representation Dwindles Even Further
With Endō's exit from the 2026 World Cup, just seven Liverpool players will now be competing in the United States this summer:
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konaté are also representing their nations on the global stage, though none of them will remain Liverpool players after June 30.
New manager Andoni Iraola will therefore have the bulk of his new squad available for the start of pre-season, which could prove hugely beneficial as the Reds navigate yet another transitional period. It also reduces the risk of a key player picking up a serious injury.
As for Endō, a return date remains unclear, but further time on the sidelines is the last thing the midfielder needed, having made just 12 appearances throughout 2025–26.