Japan coach says he made difficult call to keep captain Wataru Endo out of World Cup

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.

Moriyasu said Saturday, the eve of Japan's Group F opener against the Netherlands, that it was difficult having to tell Endo his decision earlier this week. The coach said Endo was respectful and understanding.

“We had him try the best he could and also had the medical staff looking after him," Moriyasu said through an interpreter. “We discussed that throughout the World Cup, it may be difficult for him to perform for the entire period of the games.”

The coach said it was a decision that “had to be made.”

Endo, who played for Japan at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, had surgery on his left foot in February. He returned when playing in Japan’s 1-0 warmup victory against Iceland on May 31 in Tokyo, when he came out at halftime. He then traveled with the team to the United States, and had been going through physical therapy.

The Japanese soccer association said Thursday that Endo had withdrawn from the squad because of the injury. He later announced his surprise retirement from the national team.

“Since getting injured and up till this point, I’ve done everything I could and I have no regret,” Endo said in a social media post this week, adding he would "be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans.”

Defender Ko Itakura, who plays for Dutch club Ajax, was named the new captain. Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino was called up to replace Endo on the roster.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu and his men's national team conduct a walk-through on the pitch ahead of its World Cup soccer tournament Group F match against the Netherlands, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Japan's Wataru Endo addresses fans before a training session Monday, June 8, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Andri Fannar Baldursson of Iceland falls as he battles for the ball with Wataru Endo of Japan during the friendly soccer international between Japan and Iceland in Tokyo, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu responds to a question during a news conference Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto lost a bid for a no-hitter when Tristan Peters hit a leadoff homer for the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Yamamoto retired his first 23 batters before Chase Meidroth reached on a two-out error on shortstop Mookie Betts in the eighth. Jacob Gonzalez then bounced to second, ending the inning.

But Peters connected for his third homer on a 96.6 mph fastball, sending a drive deep to right.

After Edgar Quero flied out to center, Yamamoto was replaced by Alex Vesia. The Japanese right-hander received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 37,832 as he departed the mound.

Yamamoto struck out seven. He threw a season-high 109 pitches, 74 for strikes.

The Dodgers had a 7-0 lead going into the ninth.

There was a short delay before the bottom of the sixth while the grounds crew worked on the area around the pitching rubber on the mound. But Yamamoto had no issues when the game resumed, striking out Gonzalez on a full-count cutter before Peters bounced to first and Quero fouled out to left.

Miguel Vargas used the ABS challenge system to overturn a called strike three before lining to left for the second out of the seventh. Colson Montgomery lined to first baseman Freddie Freeman on a 3-2 pitch in the eighth.

The 27-year-old Yamamoto threw a career-high 113 pitches against Cincinnati during last year's playoffs.

Yamamoto is in his third season with Los Angeles. He was the World Series MVP last year, helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive championship.

He is in the middle of a sharp stretch for the NL West leaders. He was 3-1 with a sparking 0.99 ERA in his last four starts coming into the day.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, of Japan, delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)