Japan captain Endo withdraws from World Cup due to injury, retires from internationals

Japan's World Cup campaign has suffered a significant blow with the withdrawal of captain Wataru Endo due to injury. The midfielder, who has faced an injury-plagued season with Liverpool, will not participate in the tournament.

Endo announced his retirement from international football alongside his World Cup withdrawal. "Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever," Endo stated on social media. He expressed frustration at missing the event but took pride in the team's progress since the 2022 World Cup.

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Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever

"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," he added. The Japan Football Association confirmed that Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Shuto Machino will replace Endo in the squad.

Japan is drawn in Group F and is scheduled to begin their eighth World Cup appearance against the Netherlands on June 14, followed by matches against Tunisia and Sweden.

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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