Japan Football Association (JFA) honorary president Kozo Tashima has announced his intention to contest the FIFA presidential election, emerging as another challenger to incumbent Gianni Infantino ahead of the March 2027 vote.
The 68-year-old football administrator, who previously served as president of the JFA, confirmed his candidacy with the backing of the Japanese football governing body, adding another dimension to the growing contest for leadership of world football.
Tashima, a former international footballer and coach, has been a member of the FIFA Council since 2015. He led the JFA from 2016 to 2024 before being succeeded by Tsuneyasu Miyamoto.
Explaining his decision to enter the race, Tashima said he wanted to promote the values of integrity, soundness and high ethical standards associated with Japanese football.
“I have decided to run for FIFA presidential election in order to convey this philosophy to the world and contribute to a better future for football,” he said.
He also expressed his determination to use his experience in football administration to support the development of the global game.
JFA president Miyamoto welcomed the decision, describing the candidacy as an important challenge through which Tashima could contribute his experience and knowledge to international football.
Tashima’s entry into the race comes at a time when Infantino’s leadership has faced criticism over a controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal involving private investment in the commercial interests of major football competitions, including the World Cup.
The proposal was abandoned in July following opposition from sections of the football community.
Despite the criticism, Infantino remains a strong favourite to secure another term, having received significant support from football associations across different confederations.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) formally endorsed his re-election bid last month, strengthening his position ahead of the election.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega had previously announced his intention to challenge for the FIFA presidency in October, making Tashima the second declared challenger to Infantino.
However, the Japanese administrator’s candidacy brings the backing of an established national football federation and adds further competition to the election.
Candidates seeking the FIFA presidency must obtain nominations from at least five member associations before they can qualify for the contest. The deadline for submitting nominations is November 18.
The election is scheduled for March 2027, when representatives of FIFA’s 211 member associations will decide who leads the organisation for the next presidential term.
Although Infantino enters the contest with considerable institutional and international backing, Tashima’s decision signals growing interest in challenging his leadership and presenting an alternative direction for the administration of world football.
