The 27-year-old’s first experience of the prestigious competition came four years ago where they finished eighth.
But before Hasegawa returns to pre-season training with City, she’s hoping she can add an Olympic medal to her honour list.
INSTRUMENTAL MIDFIELDER
Hasegawa is one of, if not the, most important and technically gifted defensive midfielders in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
So it may come as surprise to detail that she used to play as more of an attacking midfielder before moving to England.
Composure, stamina, an eye for an attacking pass, and breaking up opposing play, Hasegawa’s list of traits is endless.
The midfielder played in all but one of City’s 31 games in all competitions throughout the 2023/24 campaign which is a key testament as to how pivotal her role is in Gareth Taylor’s team.
And this was emulated in Japan’s previous outing at the 2020 Summer Olympics – which took place in 2021 due to COVID-19.
In her home country, Hasegawa started in all four of Japan’s games. She assisted two goals in the competition before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual silver medallists Sweden.
HASEGAWA: NEED TO KNOW
City’s intelligent midfielder joined the Club in September 2022 and has since made 57 appearances for the Blues, scoring two goals too.
Hasegawa began her senior career at Toyko Verdy Beleza, her youth club. She then enjoyed a short spell at AC Milan before moving to the Barclays Women’s Super League in 2021 when she signed for West Ham.
She represented Japan at Under-17 and Under-20 before earning her first senior cap in 2017. Since then she’s totaled 84 appearances and 18 goals for her nation. This will be her second Olympic Games with Japan.
HISTORY makers?
Ranked seventh in FIFA’s world rankings, Japan are always a strong contender to knock out any opponent from major competitions.
Their tenacity, togetherness, and relentless style of play makes Japan a formidable force.
And this summer, Hasegawa and her team-mates will be looking to etch their names in a historic moment if they can out-perform all the teams they face.
Japan won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. A medal of any stature would see them become the first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to have two podium finishes in women’s football since it’s addition to the Olympics in 1996.
If Hasegawa can assist Japan to a gold medal, they would be the first AFC nation to claim the top spot.
OLYMPIC SCHEDULE
Japan have been placed in Group C with Spain, Brazil and Nigeria.
The times and venues for their games are as follows:
Spain v Japan | 16:00 (UK) | Thursday 25 July | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Brazil v Japan | 16: 00 (UK) | Sunday 28 July | Parc des Princes, Paris
Japan v Nigeria | 16: 00 (UK) | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
