Japan Faces Major Blow as Captain Wataru Endo Retires Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Japan's World Cup Hopes Diminished

Tokyo, Japan - June 12: Japan's aspirations for the FIFA World Cup have taken a significant hit with the announcement that their captain, Wataru Endo, will not only miss the tournament due to injury but has also decided to retire from international football.

Just days ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands, team director Masakuni Yamamoto confirmed that Endo, who previously led the team to the World Cup, is still recovering from a foot injury that necessitated surgery back in February. The 33-year-old midfielder, currently with Liverpool, had been informed by coach Hajime Moriyasu that he would be fit for the tournament.

Endo has represented Japan 73 times, with his first match since February being a friendly against Iceland in Tokyo on May 31, where he played in the first half. He had been training separately from the main squad at their Nashville base and had recently made a partial return to full training.

In a statement shared on FIFA's official website, Endo expressed, “Since my injury, I have done everything possible, so I have no regrets. While I feel frustration at missing this World Cup, I take pride in having captained this team since the Qatar World Cup and in our growth as a unit that can confidently discuss 'winning the World Cup.' The current team is exceptional, and I believe they will rise above any challenges and reveal a new perspective.”

Shuto Machino from Borussia Monchengladbach has been brought in as Endo's replacement, while Ko Itakura will now take on the captaincy. Japan is placed in Group F and will kick off their campaign on June 14.

Japan's best performances in the World Cup have been reaching the round of 16, a feat they accomplished in the last tournament held in Qatar in 2022.