Liverpool midfielder and Japan captain Endo quits international football two days before WC opener

Japan have been dealt a major blow ahead of the World Cup after captain Wataru Endo confirmed his retirement from international football just days before the team's opening fixture against the Netherlands.

The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder has struggled to recover from an ankle injury suffered during a Premier League clash with Sunderland in February. Although surgery helped him return to the matchday squad for Liverpool's final league game against Brentford, he has ultimately been forced to bring an end to his international career sooner than expected.

The announcement has stunned Japanese supporters, particularly after Endo featured for 45 minutes in a friendly against Iceland on May 31 before being withdrawn due to discomfort. Following that match, head coach Hajime Moriyasu remained hopeful, stating: "According to the medical reports, there is nothing to say he can't play. So we just believe, pray and wait."

Endo broke the news himself through a heartfelt message on social media.

"As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever. Of course, there's frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup - me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of "winning the World Cup" into something we can say as a matter of course. 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."

Only two days before the announcement, Endo had spoken confidently about Japan's ambitions for the tournament, declaring: "We will do our best with pride and passion to achieve something we’ve never seen before in Japan’s soccer history."

His departure marks the end of an international career that spanned more than a decade. Since making his debut in 2015, Endo accumulated 73 appearances and scored four goals for the Samurai Blue, while also serving as captain since the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Japan have called up Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino as his replacement, but Endo is not the only notable absentee. Injuries have also ruled out key attacking players Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino.

The Japanese begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands in Arlington before facing Tunisia six days later and concluding their Group F schedule against Sweden on June 25.