Wataru Endo, the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder who captained Japan through some of the most significant stretches of their recent footballing history, has officially retired from international duty. The announcement came on June 11, 2026, just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A persistent foot injury, one that first surfaced during a match against Sunderland back in February, made the decision for him.
The injury that ended everything
Endo went down during the Sunderland fixture in February 2026 with what turned out to be a season-ending foot injury. Surgery followed shortly after, and what began was a months-long race against the clock to get fit for the World Cup.
Despite what was described as close monitoring of his recovery, a setback during Japan’s final pre-tournament preparations in Nashville killed any remaining hope.
