Japan's Kozo Tashima Enters FIFA Presidential Race Against Gianni Infantino
Former Japan Football Association president Kozo Tashima has officially launched his campaign for the FIFA presidency, positioning himself as a calm, principles-first alternative to incumbent Gianni Infantino.
⚽Soccer in the USPhoto: The Guardian US Sport
Key points
- Japan FA honorary president Kozo Tashima launched his campaign for the FIFA presidency on Nov. 5.
- Former Japan head coach Takeshi Okada resigned as JFA vice-president over FIFA's direction and endorsed Tashima.
- Tashima and Ramon Vega are currently set to challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino in the March election.
Japan Football Association honorary president Kozo Tashima announced his candidacy on Nov. 5 to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, joining a race that also includes former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega. The 68-year-old sports executive, who has served on the FIFA Council since 2015 and earned seven caps for Japan during his playing career, aims to steer global soccer governing away from controversy and toward a quiet, principles-based administration.
The campaign announcement follows recent leadership friction within Japanese soccer administration. Current JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto pledged support for Infantino in October, prompting JFA vice-president Takeshi Okada to resign. Okada, who coached Japan at the 2010 World Cup, cited a divide between his values and FIFA's recent tournament decisions as the reason for his departure, subsequently offering his backing to Tashima.
Tashima's bid presents member associations with an alternative model of governance ahead of the scheduled election in March. While Infantino maintains significant political backing across global confederations, Tashima hopes to assemble support from key voting blocs across Asia, Europe, and Concacaf.
What to watch next: European governing body UEFA is expected to announce soon whether it will put forward its own presidential candidate before campaign rosters close ahead of the March vote.
Source The Guardian US Sport — theguardian.com/football/2026/nov/12/fifa-kozo-tashima-seeks-change… ↗
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