World Cup 2026: Bad news for Japan

A player announces his withdrawal from the squad and his absence from the tournament.

World Cup 2026 Today at 06:20

Japan will have to compete in the 2026 World Cup without Wataru Endo. The Liverpool midfielder has announced both his withdrawal from the tournament and the end of his international career.

Sidelined by a persistent injury, the 33-year-old was unable to secure his place in the Japanese squad for the competition. In his statement, Endo explained that he had done everything possible to return, but to no avail, and expressed his pride in his international journey. He also offered words of encouragement to his teammates, believing that Japan now has a squad capable of aiming high on the world stage.

発表にあった通りW杯メンバーから離脱する事になりました。
怪我をしてからここまで、自分にできることは全てやってきたので何も後悔はありません。…
— 遠藤航 (Wataru Endo) (@wataru0209) June 11, 2026

Captain and key figure of the team for several years, he leaves the national side with 73 caps and played an important role in Japan's progress, notably reaching the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. Japan will now have to rebuild its midfield without one of its most experienced leaders.