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Japan Captain Wataru Endo Is Out of the World Cup and Retires From International Duty
- On Thursday, Japan captain Wataru Endo withdrew from the 2026 World Cup squad due to a persistent foot injury, the Japan Football Association confirmed.
- The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder underwent left foot surgery in February and struggled to regain full fitness after returning for Japan's send-off match against Iceland on May 31.
- Following the withdrawal, Endo announced his international retirement on social media, stating, "Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever."
- National team director Masakuni Yamamoto, under manager Hajime Moriyasu, confirmed Ajax defender Ko Itakura as the new captain and called up Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino as replacement.
- Before their Group F opener against the Netherlands, the Blue Samurai must adjust strategy with Endo leaving the squad after training separately near Nashville, Tennessee.
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In addition to Mitoma and Minamino, the national team captain Endo will also not be able to play in the World Cup.
The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder suffers from a foot injury. He announced on X that he would become a "simple supporter" of his national team.
·Paris, France
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Japan Captain Endo, Hit by Injury, Drops Out Ahead of World Cup and Announces Retirement from National Team. Japan national football team captain Wataru Endo (33, Liverpool) will be unable to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America due to a foot injury. According to the U.S. sports media outlet ESPN on the 12th (Korea time), Endo...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources90
Leaning Left20Leaning Right9Center17Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 37%
R 20%
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