Endo out of World Cup as Japan's Group F path takes shape

Endo out of World Cup, retires from international football

Japan captain Wataru Endo has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup through injury and has confirmed his international retirement. Shuto Machino has been called up to replace him in the squad, with Ko Itakura set to take the captain's armband.

"Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever," Endo said. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

It is a bitter pill for Japan fans. Endo has been the heartbeat of the midfield, and losing him before a ball is kicked changes the shape of this team entirely.

Group F set: Netherlands, Sweden, Tunisia await

Japan go into Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. The loss of Endo is a massive blow to midfield stability ahead of those three matches. No warm-up results or specific fixture dates have been confirmed yet. (3)

Koeman calling Larsson for Sweden intel

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman says he plans to call his old friend Henrik Larsson to gather information on Sweden ahead of the group stage. The Dutch face Japan in Group F, so any tactical insight Koeman gathers on Sweden is worth noting, it shows how seriously Netherlands are taking this group. (6)

Fan reactions

The mood among Japan supporters is a mix of heartbreak and pride. Many are devastated to lose Endo on the eve of the tournament, but his farewell statement, saying he has no regrets, has resonated deeply. Ko Itakura stepping up as captain is seen as a natural choice, and there is cautious optimism that Machino can offer something different in attack. Read the full discussion on r/soccer