Japan captain Wataru Endo ruled out of World Cup with foot injury

Japan have suffered a major setback ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after captain Wataru Endo was ruled out with a foot injury, the Japan Football Association confirmed on Thursday. The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder, who led the Samurai Blue throughout qualifying, will miss the tournament after failing to recover from surgery performed in late February.

Injury timeline and recovery efforts

Endo sustained the foot injury in February and underwent surgery, with coach Hajime Moriyasu previously expressing optimism that his captain would be fit in time for the World Cup. The midfielder made his first appearance since 11 February in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland on 31 May in Tokyo, playing the first half. He had been training separately from the squad at their base in Nashville, Tennessee, and made a partial return to full training on Wednesday before the announcement.

Endo's statement and retirement

Endo, capped 73 times for Japan, announced his retirement from international football in a statement. "From the moment I got injured up until now, I have done everything I possibly could, so I have no regrets," he said. "Of course there is frustration at not being able to play in this World Cup, but more than that, I am proud that since the Qatar World Cup I have led this team as captain and that we have grown together into a group that can speak of 'winning the World Cup' as a matter of course. The team we have now is a truly outstanding one. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us a view we have never seen before."

Replacement and new captain

Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Shuto Machino has been called up as Endo's replacement. Centre-back Ko Itakura, also of Gladbach, has been confirmed as the new captain. Itakura previously wore the armband in a Kirin Challenge Cup match against Colombia in March.

World Cup outlook

Japan are in Group F and will open their campaign against the Netherlands in Dallas on 14 June. Endo's absence leaves a significant void in midfield, where he served as the team's anchor. The Samurai Blue will now look to Itakura and other leaders to guide the squad through the tournament.