Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup due to a foot injury and has subsequently announced his retirement from international football. The Japan international sustained a severe foot injury during Liverpool's victory over Sunderland in February, sidelining him for most of the remainder of the season.
Endo's Injury and World Cup Withdrawal
Despite being included in Japan's World Cup squad, Endo did not participate in Japan's training session in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. Masakuni Yamamoto, the National Team Director of the Japan Football Association, confirmed that Endo's foot injury has not healed, leading to his departure from the squad. Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino has been named as his replacement.
Japan, placed in Group F for the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will face the Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 21), and Sweden (June 26) in the group stage.
Endo's Retirement Announcement
Following his withdrawal, Endo posted a message on social media announcing his retirement from international football. He expressed pride in the team's growth since the Qatar World Cup and his role as captain, stating, 'Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever.' He added, 'With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team. So from here on, I'll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans.'
Impact on Liverpool
Endo's exit means seven Liverpool players will now participate in the World Cup: Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Alisson Becker (Brazil), Florian Wirtz (Germany), and Alexander Isak (Sweden). Endo is optimistic about his chances of participating in Liverpool's pre-season training under new manager Andoni Iraola.
