Japan captain Wataru Endo is in a race to be fit for Sunday’s World Cup opener against the Netherlands, leaving coach Hajime Moriyasu «praying» he makes it.
The Liverpool midfielder is nursing a foot injury and was not involved in full training at Japan’s pre-tournament camp in Mexico.
Endo took part in running and passing drills with his teammates on Monday after moving to Japan’s World Cup base in Nashville. Moriyasu said he was still fighting the Dutch in Dallas.
«According to the medical reports, there is nothing to indicate that he cannot play,» Moriyasu, whose team also plays Sweden and Tunisia in Group F, told reporters before leaving Mexico.
“So we just believe, pray and wait.”
Endo suffered a season-long foot injury playing for Liverpool against Sunderland in February and returned for Japan in a 1–0 friendly win over Iceland in Tokyo on 31 May.
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He came off half-time and continued to feel uncomfortable.
Moriyasu said replacing the 33-year-old in his squad was an option if he could not play a role in the tournament.
“I always consider substitution if a player cannot play, and that applies not only to Endo, but to everyone.
«We have several players coming back from injury and we have to keep assessing them until the last minute, but we called them up on the assumption that they would be fit in time.»
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was left out after suffering a hamstring injury less than a week before Moriyasu named his squad.
Monaco’s Takumi Minamino also missed the match after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December.
Published on June 9, 2026
