Fakayejo Paul
Just three days before their highly anticipated Group F opener against the Netherlands in Dallas, the ultimate nightmare scenario has struck the Japanese national team. In a stunning and deeply emotional double-blow, Japan have officially ruled captain Wataru Endo out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury, with the Liverpool midfielder simultaneously announcing his immediate retirement from international football.
Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Shuto Machino has been formally called up to the 26-man roster as his emergency replacement, forcing manager Hajime Moriyasu into a massive tactical reshuffle on the eve of the tournament.
The Race Against Time Ends in Tears
Endo’s exclusion brings a tragic end to an intense, four-month medical gamble to get the 33-year-old anchor fit for his third World Cup showcase:
- The Root Cause: Endo originally sustained severe damage to his Lisfranc foot ligament during a Premier League clash for Liverpool back in February. He opted for an aggressive, fast-tracked surgery utilizing an artificial ligament solely to keep his World Cup dreams alive.
- The Final Setback: While he managed to play the first half of Japan’s send-off friendly against Iceland on May 31, Endo heavily aggravated the left foot injury. Despite training separately at the team’s base camp in Nashville, Tennessee, the medical staff officially informed Moriyasu on Thursday that the captain could not safely compete.
- The Armband Passes: With the legendary midfielder departing the camp immediately, Ajax center-back Ko Itakura has been officially named the new captain of the Samurai Blue for the tournament.
An Emotional Farewell
Taking to his social media channels shortly after leaving the team hotel, a dignified Endo expressed his pride and officially closed his 73-cap international chapter:
“Since getting injured and up till this point, I’ve done everything I could and I have no regrets. There is frustration from not being able to take part, of course… but I’m proud to have led and developed together with a team who can naturally talk about our goal being winning the World Cup.
With this, I am retiring from the national team. The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday. Let’s believe in that and cheer them on together.”
The Tactical Pivot: Shuto Machino Steps Up
In a highly unexpected twist, Moriyasu has chosen not to draft in a direct like-for-like defensive midfielder to replace Endo’s anchoring presence. Instead, Borussia Mönchengladbach marksman Shuto Machino gets the late call-up to inject raw offensive depth into the side.
Machino, who coincidentally made the 2022 Qatar World Cup roster under identical circumstances as an injury replacement for Yuta Nakayama, gives Japan a physical, high-IQ central striking option. This tactical pivot suggests Moriyasu will rely on the existing midfield double-pivot of Hidemasa Morita and Ao Tanaka to shoulder the defensive burden while loading up on final-third firepower.
Losing an elite anchor and emotional leader like Wataru Endo just days before facing the Netherlands is a catastrophic gut punch. Can Ko Itakura rally the squad to overcome this adversity, or will the total absence of Endo’s midfield steel completely expose Japan against Europe’s elite?