Wataru Endo (33, Liverpool), the "captain" of Japan's national soccer team, was ultimately unable to overcome the effects of a left-foot injury and will miss the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. Endo announced his retirement from the national team.

Masakuni Yamamoto, the Japan Football Association's technical committee chairman, held a press conference at Japan's base camp set up in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on the 12th and announced Endo's omission from the national team.

Before Yamamoto's announcement, head coach Hajime Moriyasu decided, based on the medical staff's report, to drop Endo from the squad, and Endo immediately left the base camp.

Shuto Machino (Monchengladbach) was called up as Endo's replacement, and defender Ko Itakura (Ajax) took over the captain's armband.

Capable of playing both defensive midfielder and center back, Endo made his professional debut with J.League side Shonan Bellmare in 2010, moved on to Urawa Reds, and advanced to Europe by joining Sint-Truiden (Belgium) in 2018.

He stepped up to a major league by transferring to Stuttgart (Germany) in 2019, and after putting on the Liverpool shirt in August 2023 in the English Premier League (EPL), he has been active for three seasons.

Endo has 73 caps (4 goals). He did not get a chance to play at the 2018 tournament in Russia, but at the 2022 tournament in Qatar he featured as a regular, playing three group-stage matches and four in total through the round of 16.

Endo suffered a ligament injury on the top of his left foot in the match against Sunderland on February 11, underwent surgery, focused on rehabilitation, and returned for the national team friendly against Iceland on the 31st of last month, rekindling hopes of playing at the World Cup in North and Central America, but ultimately did not recover in time.

According to Japan's Nikkan Sports, Endo continued individual training even at the preliminary camp in Monterrey, Mexico, which began on the 2nd, and after arriving at the base camp in Nashville, USA, he partially joined team training but did not appear at training on the 11th.

Endo shared his feelings and, at the same time, the news of his retirement from the national team via his social media. He said, "I have no regrets because I have done everything I could from the moment of the injury to now," and added, "The frustration of not standing together on this World Cup stage is beyond words, but I am proud that I served as the captain of this team, which has grown together toward the goal of 'winning the World Cup' since the Qatar tournament." He continued, "I retire from the Japan national team at the end of this camp. From now on, I will return as a fan and passionately support the Blue Samurai."

Itakura, who inherited the captain's armband, said in a local interview, "It breaks my heart that we lost the team's spiritual pillar right before the World Cup kicks off," and added, "But because we all know the dedication and determination Endo has shown, we will fight on the pitch with all our might, for his share as well," his eyes welling up.