Losing one key player before a World Cup is unfortunate. Losing three starts to look like a crisis. Japan lost Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, and captain Wataru Endo to injuries before the 2026 tournament, and somehow the Samurai Blue have turned what should have been a disaster into a showcase of organizational depth.
Three absences, three different stories
Mitoma, the Brighton winger, was ruled out on May 15, 2026, after sustaining a hamstring injury.
Minamino’s situation was even more heartbreaking. The Monaco forward tore his ACL back in December 2025, meaning his World Cup was effectively over six months before it started.
Then came the final blow. Captain Endo, who had been nursing a left-foot injury, withdrew from the squad on June 11, 2026, just days before the tournament kicked off. He didn’t just leave the squad. He announced his retirement from international duty entirely.
