Wataru Endo, Japan, Shuto Machino, Liverpool
11 June 2026
Wataru Endo has withdrawn from Japan’s World Cup squad and announced his immediate international retirement. The Liverpool midfielder failed to fully recover from a foot injury and has been replaced by Shuto Machino.
Endo’s exit is a major blow just days before Japan face the Netherlands in Group F. His retirement ends a 73-cap international career and follows another injury setback after Kaoru Mitoma was already ruled out.