The FIFA World Cup 2026 gathers the world’s best players, and Wataru Endo takes pride in being Asia’s best, particularly in Japan.
Endo attempts to make his third World Cup stint a memorable one, as he seeks to carry the Samurai Blue to greatness in football’s biggest global showcase along to be hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico next year.
Wataru Endo Player Profile:
- Full Name: Wataru Endo
- Date of Birth: February 9, 1993
- Place of Birth: Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Japan
- Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
- Position: Defensive midfielder
- Preferred Foot: Right
Club Information
Current Club:
- Liverpool (English Premier League) – 2023-
Previous Clubs:
- Shonan Bellmare (J1 League) – 2010-15
- Urawa Red Dragons (J1 League) – 2016-18
- Sint-Truiden (Belgian Pro League) – 2018-20
- VfB Stuttgart (Ioan) – 2019-20
- VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga) – 2020-23
- Liverpool (English Premier League) – 2023-
Endo started his senior career at the J1 League through Shonan Bellmare in 2010 where he stayed for five years.
The 32-year-old then took his act to Urawa Red Diamonds in 2016, as he eventually led the team to the J1 League title and the 2017 AFC Champions League.
He would later to the Belgium Pro League, where he played for Sint-Truiden in 2018.
Endo was loaned to Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart in 2019 before he was signed up a year later. He would also serve as its team captain before his final season in Germany.
The Samurai Blue team captain singed with Premier League club Liverpool on a four-year deal on August 18, 2023 for a £16-million fee.
The Japanese earned his first trophy with Liverpool after the Reds beat Chelsea, 1-0, while playing 120 minutes at the 2024 EFL Cup final.
International Career
- National Team: Japan
- Senior Debut: August 2, 2015
- Captain: June 2023
- Milestone: Led Samurai Blue to fourth-place finish in Tokyo Olympics
Endo got a call from coach Vahid Halihodzic for him to join the Samurai Blue in the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup.
He woud later make his international debut in Japan’s 2-1 defeat to North Korea on August 2, 2015.
The skipper would also join Japan’s roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup un Qatar, where they reached the round-of-16.
Endo has since been included in Japan’s final roster for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, where he scored a late goal in Japan’s 2-1 loss against Iraq in a secoud group match.
Major Tournaments Played
- FIFA World Cup: 2022 (Round of 16)
- AFC Asian Cup: 2019 (runners-up)
- Olympic Games: 2021 (Tokyo, 4th place – as captain and overage player)
- FIFA WORLD Cup Qualifier: 2018 (did not play in final squad), 2022 (qualified)
Player Data
- Key Attributes: Tackling, stamina, positioning, leadership, composure
- Strengths:
Good read of the game, ball-winning ability, can play multiple positions, displays calm under pressure - Weaknesses:
Lack ot to-p-end speed; not a prolific scorer
Career Highlights
- Japan team captain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (4th place finish)
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up with Japan
- Played for VfB Stuttgatrt at Bundesliga and became captain (2019-23)
- Signed with Liverpool in 2023
- First Japanese player to become captain of a Bundesliga team
- Scored first Premier League goal vs Fulham (December 2023)
- Known as one of the top ball recoverers at Bundesliga 2022-23 season
- Played major role in Japan’s upset win over Germany in 2022 World Cup
Statistics
Club Appearances and Statistics:
- Total Appearances: 373
- Total Goals: 27
| Club | Years | Appearances (Total) | Goals (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shonan Bellmare | 2010–2015 | 158 | 23 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2016-2018 | 73 | 5 |
| Sint-Truiden | 2018-2020 | 20 | 0 |
| VfB Stuttgart | 2019-2023 | 133 | 15 |
| Liverpool FC | 2023-Present | 41 | 2 |
Country Appearances and Statistics:
- Caps (including friendlies): 59
- Goals: 2
| Competition | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Finals | 4 | 0 |
| AFC Asian Cup | 5 | 0 |
| World Cup Qualifiers | 14 | 1 |
| Olympic Games (overage) | 6 | 0 |
| Friendlies | 30 | 1 |
| Total Competitive Matches (excluding friendlies) | 29 | 1 |
Fun Trivia
- Endo is considered a late-bloomer in his development, moving up in the European league at 26 years old – he became Stuttgart captain and made it to Premier League at Liverpool in his 30s.
- He earned the moniker “The Professor due to his figh football IQ, and skill to read the game like a chess master using his calm presence.
- Endo served as Japan’s captain and Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) and led the Samurai Blue to fourth place on home soil.
- A video game player – particularly FIFA – he once played as himself in Career Mode.
- Endo loves Japanese curry, and jokingly considers it as his go-to meal and fuel before big games.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website for more football news and other updates.
