World Cup 2026: Japan suffers major blow as Wataru Endo withdraws through injury

Japan’s hopes of making a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a significant setback after Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of a lingering foot injury.

The 33-year-old had been battling to recover from a serious foot ligament injury that required surgery earlier this year. Despite concerns over his fitness, Endo worked tirelessly during his rehabilitation and earned a place in Japan’s final 26-man World Cup squad. His inclusion was seen as a major boost for the Samurai Blue, with the experienced midfielder expected to provide leadership and stability in the middle of the park.

There were encouraging signs when Endo made his first appearance since the injury in Japan’s World Cup warm-up match against Iceland on May 31. However, the midfielder was unable to complete the game after feeling discomfort in the injured foot, raising fresh concerns about his availability for the tournament. Reports later confirmed that the injury had not healed sufficiently, forcing Japan’s medical team and coaching staff to make the difficult decision to rule him out of the competition.

Endo expressed his disappointment in a statement released to the media following the announcement.

“I am truly sorry that I cannot speak to the media directly. I hope everyone will achieve the best possible results,” he said.

The Liverpool midfielder had been preparing to captain Japan at what would have been another major international tournament in an impressive national team career that includes more than 70 appearances and two previous World Cup campaigns. His leadership qualities and experience were expected to play a crucial role as Japan sought to build on their recent successes on the global stage.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu and his staff must now adjust their plans just days before the team’s opening World Cup match. Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino has been called up as Endo’s replacement, adding attacking depth to the squad.

Japan is in Group F with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Japan will play its first game against the Netherlands on June 14th at the AT&T Stadium.

While Japan remains one of Asia’s strongest representatives at the tournament, losing their captain and midfield leader is undoubtedly a major setback. The focus will now shift to how the squad responds without one of its most influential players as the World Cup gets underway in North America.