Days before Japan plays its first game in the 2026 World Cup, the national team loses Wataru Endo from the roster after the midfielder suffered an injury.
Not only is Endo missing the World Cup this summer, but the midfielder has announced his retirement from international football.
On his social media page, Endo wrote a big statement confirming his absence from the World Cup.
Endo 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... 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."
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
With the midfielder out, Japan announced that his replacement will be Shuto Machino.
Who is Shuto Machino?
Shuto Machino is a Japanese striker who plays at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. This will be Machino's first World Cup for Japan after making his national team debut in 2022.
Machino did not play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His previous appearance for Japan was on March 31, 2026, in a friendly match against England, where Japan won 1-0.
This past season, Machino played 34 games in the Bundesliga for Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he scored four goals and provided one assist.
