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Wataru Endo ruled out of World Cup, announces retirement from international soccer

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 10:59 PM

Last updated Jun 11, 2026

Wataru Endo ruled out of World Cup, announces retirement from international soccer

Summary

Japan captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an injury, just three days before their opener against the Netherlands. The Liverpool midfielder announced his international retirement on June 11. Endo had not fully recovered from a foot injury that has sidelined him since February, affecting his participation during Japan's pre-World Cup training camp. He expressed frustration at missing the tournament but affirmed his pride in leading the team and his belief in their potential future success.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Endo is replaced by Shuto Machino in Japan's World Cup squad.
•He has 73 caps for Japan, scoring four goals since his debut in 2015.
•Endo was part of the squads for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
•Japan opens its World Cup campaign against the Netherlands.

Latest Updates

10:59 PMYahoo Sports — Japan captain Endo out of World Cup, ends international career

What they're saying

"
Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup with injury and announced his international retirement on Thursday, three days before his team's opener against the Netherlands."But more than that, I'm proud that I've been able to captain this team since the Qatar World Cup and help it grow into a group where it feels natural to say our target is to win the World Cup."
— Yahoo Sports

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