 After that, he became a regular player and played many matches as defensive midfielder with Yasuhito Endo.Hasebe was the onfield captain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was the reserve third string goalkeeper, and was captain in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.He captained the team for three World Cup campaigns, until he announced his international retirement after Japan lost 3–2 against Belgium in the Round of 16 of 2018 FIFA World Cup.