Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the World Cup squad due to a foot injury, and the Liverpool midfielder has announced his retirement from international duty. Ko Itakura has been named captain, with Shuto Machino called up as Endo’s replacement.
TOKYO — Japan’s World Cup campaign suddenly lost its captain.
On Thursday, the Japan Football Association said Wataru Endo had withdrawn from the country’s World Cup squad because of a foot injury. Hours later, the Liverpool midfielder made his decision public himself, announcing his retirement from international duty.
Endo, 33, posted the news on his X account in Japanese three days before Japan’s Group F opener against the Netherlands. Japan’s squad has been training in Nashville, Tennessee.
He wrote that there was no regret about his choice. “Since getting injured and up till this point, I’ve done everything I could and I have no regret,” Endo said. Surgery on his left foot came in February.
His injury appeared again in Japan’s build-up. Endo came off at halftime in the 1-0 warmup victory against Iceland on May 31 in Tokyo, returning after his procedure.
With the World Cup approaching, Endo framed the withdrawal as the final step of a wider decision. “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.”
The change in leadership followed immediately. Japan’s national team director Masakuni Yamamoto named Ajax defender Ko Itakura as the new captain. Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Shuto Machino was called up as Endo’s replacement.
For Japan. the timing is stark: a captain pulled from the squad just days before the Netherlands match. and a decision that ends Endo’s international chapter in a campaign he still planned to finish. Now the group will move forward with Itakura leading. while Machino steps in to fill the void left by Endo’s injury and retirement.
Wataru Endo Japan World Cup squad foot injury international retirement Ko Itakura Shuto Machino Liverpool Netherlands Group F Nashville training