Wataru Endo

Endo played 45 minutes in Japan's 1-0 victory in Sunday's friendly against Iceland, marking his first competitive appearance since sustaining a foot injury during Liverpool's win at Sunderland in early February, according to the club.

Analysis: Endo's return after more than three months on the sidelines is a significant boost for Japan heading into the World Cup, with the Liverpool midfielder completing the full first half in Tokyo without any apparent setbacks. Japan's World Cup opener comes on June 14 against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas, where Endo will face three of his Liverpool teammates in Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk, giving him added motivation to prove his fitness over the coming days before the tournament begins.

May 24, 2026

Fit for bench

Endo (foot) is on the bench for Sunday's match against Brentford.

Analysis: Endo is back in the team Sunday and set for a return after a lengthy layoff, having dealt with a foot injury. He may not get much time to see the field, although this is a good sign either way as he heads into the World Cup, looking to be fit for the start of the tournament in a few weeks.

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Wataru Endo

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