Liverpool's Wataru Endo withdraws from World Cup and announces international retirement in shock statement

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has announced his retirement from international football after withdrawing from Japan's World Cup squad, just hours before the tournament opener.

The 33-year-old was included in Japan's 26-man squad and returned for their friendly clash against Iceland at the end of May.

It was a monumental moment for Endo, who spent months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery in February for a season-ending foot injury that he suffered in a Premier League clash against Sunderland.

However, that match against Iceland was his last. On Thursday evening, he announced his decision to retire from the national team.

Taking to X, he wrote: "As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever.

"Of course, there's frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup—me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of 'winning the World Cup' into something we can say as a matter of course."

Endo

Endo continued: "The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we've never seen before.

"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. 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. And let's unite Japan's strength as one so that moment comes in this tournament—everyone, let's take on the North and Central America World Cup together!!"

He added: "Everyone, give it everything you've got."

In total, Endo made 73 appearances for Japan between 2015 and 2026, scoring four goals.

It has been confirmed that Ajax midfielder Ko Itakura will be handed the captain's armband for Hajime Moriyasu's side, while Borussia Monchengladbach's Shuto Machino will take Endo's place in the 26-man squad.

Japan will come up against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14th before taking on fellow Group F opponents Tunisia (June 21) and Sweden (June 26).