Japan coach says he made difficult call to keep captain Wataru Endo out of World Cup
Japan's national soccer coach, Hajime Moriyasu, has confirmed that captain Wataru Endo will miss the World Cup due to a persistent foot injury. Following the decision, Endo announced his retirement from the national team, and Ko Itakura has been named the new captain.
Why it matters
This is a significant development for the Japanese national team's roster and leadership structure ahead of their World Cup campaign.
STEPHEN HAWKINS Sat, June 13, 2026 at 10:56 PM UTC · 2 min read ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu made the final decision about team captain Wataru Endo not playing in the World Cup because of a left foot injury that would have likely kept the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder from playing full matches.
The report is a standard sports news update based on official team statements.
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