Japan captain Wataru Ando has pulled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and announced his retirement from international football after failing to recover from a persistent foot injury, bringing an emotional end to an 11-year international career.The Liverpool midfielder has been in a race against time to prove his fitness for the tournament after sustaining a serious foot injury during a Premier League match against Sunderland in February. The setback effectively ended their domestic season, forcing them to spend the final months of the campaign rehabbing in hopes of reaching a final for their country on football’s biggest stage.There was hope when Endo was included in Japan’s initial World Cup plans. He even returned to Liverpool’s matchday squad as an unused substitute during the club’s 1–1 draw with Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season. However, after linking up with the national team in Nashville, Tennessee, it became clear that the 33-year-old had not recovered sufficiently to compete at the level required for the World Cup campaign.The decision means Endo’s international career will end before the tournament even begins, despite initially being included in Japan’s 26-man squad.
Ando announced his international retirement.
With his withdrawal from the World Cup squad confirmed, Ando revealed that he is stepping away from international football altogether.The midfielder, who has become one of Japan’s defining figures of the modern era and served as captain in recent years, released an emotional statement that reflected both his disappointment and his pride at what the team had achieved.“As announced, I will be withdrawing from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I have done everything possible up to this point, so I have no regrets.“Of course, it’s disappointing not to be in this World Cup, but more than that, I’m proud of how we’ve grown together since the Qatar World Cup – as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of ‘winning the World Cup’ into something we can definitely say.”Instead of focusing on the personal heartbreak of missing out on the tournament, Endo used his farewell message to support the next generation of Japanese players and urged supporters to believe that Japan can one day become world champions.“The current team is a really great team. I’m sure they will overcome any adversity and show us places we’ve never seen before.“With this campaign, I will retire from the national team. So from here, I will be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans. The moment when Japan’s national team wins the World Cup will come someday.“Let’s believe in it and cheer them on together. And let’s unite the power of Japan as one to make that moment come in this tournament – everyone, fight for the North and Central America World Cup together!!”He concluded with a final rallying cry for his teammates:“Everyone, give it all you’ve got.”
An international career spanning two World Cups
Endo’s retirement brought to a close a national team career that began in 2015 and culminated in 73 appearances and four goals for Japan.He was first selected for the World Cup squad in Russia in 2018, although he did not appear on the pitch during the tournament. His first World Cup appearance came four years later in Qatar, where he established himself as a key figure in Hajime Moriasu’s team during Japan’s memorable run to the round of 16.By the time the 2026 tournament came around, Ando had become the captain, one of the team’s senior leaders and an important symbol of the squad’s growing ambitions at the world stage.
The injury ended the dream of the final World Cup.
The timing of the injury makes the outcome particularly painful for endo. The Liverpool midfielder underwent surgery in February after sustaining a foot injury against Sunderland, and much of his season has been devoted to rehabilitation work in an attempt to return ahead of the World Cup.
Japan poses for a team photo before the friendly soccer international between Japan and Iceland on Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
His final pre-tournament appearance for Japan came in a friendly, a 1–0 victory over Iceland in Tokyo on 31 May.That match has now become the last chapter of Ando’s international career.
Japan appointed a new captain and substitute.
Japan has already stepped up to fill the void created by the departure of its captain. Ajax defender Ko Atakura will inherit the captain’s armband for the World Cup campaign, while Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Shoto Machino has been named in the squad as Ando’s replacement.Moriasu’s side now enter the tournament without one of their most experienced leaders as they prepare for a challenging Group F campaign.Japan are heading into their World Cup campaign at an encouraging pace, opening their group stage against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14, followed by matches against Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden on June 26. The build-up has been equally positive, with Japan’s men’s national team concluding their preparations with a 1-0 win over Iceland on 31 May 2026. The result followed a strong string of friendlies, including impressive 1-0 victories over England at Wembley on 1 April and Scotland on 29 March.While Endo will no longer be on the pitch, he made it clear in his farewell message that he intends to follow every step of the journey from now on, not as captain this time, but as a supporter, the dream Japan has spent years chasing in hopes of achieving it.
