Fabrizio Romano announced Thursday that Liverpool midfielder and Japan captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out for the 2026 World Cup.
Romano said; "Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. Shuto Machino will be the replacement."
It's an abrupt end to a journey back from a severe ankle injury that ended the 33-year old's 2025/26 season with Liverpool. He was largely expected to recover in time and captain his country once again.
An uncertain future
What Romano did not make clear was if this was a new issue or if Endo had reaggravated the aforementioned ankle concern. This story is made extra difficult because it it is no lock that when he is 37 by the time World Cup 2030 arrives, that Endo will be able to represent Japan again.
Instead, he will now join the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Curtis Jones and other fellow Reds in having the summer off to heal and get fully back to 100%.
As he is entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, he will want to be fit and firing to potentially earn a short-term extension or to remind potential suitors next summer of his viability as a midfield option for any club.
His style of play does not necessarily mesh perfectly with the system Andoni Iraola will be bringing to Anfield, but his steel and tenacity in the midfield will be needed on certain days during the season.
A brief World Cup resume
Wata started and played the full 90 minutes in three of Japan's four matches at the 2022 World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the fourth.
He made the Japan roster for the 2018 edition, but never saw the pitch. This summer would have been his best chance to captain the Samurai Blue on the biggest stage. He was named captain after the 2018 World Cup.
Endo has had a unique journey through football, which is something we should dive into at a later point, but for now, it is tough news to see one of the hardest working players you will ever see have his ultimate dream ripped away at the final hurdle.
If there is any player that is uniquely built to handle this setback and return stronger, it would be Wata.
Japan loses their captain, but perhaps Liverpool can get a healthy workhorse for one last ride in 2026/27 under Iraola.
Add us as a preferred source on Google