Japan FA president Kozo Tashima to stand for Fifa presidency against Gianni Infantino

Kozo Tashima, president of the Japan Football Association, told Sports Nippon he will stand for the Fifa presidency in March. Gianni Infantino, the incumbent, is seeking re-election and has faced opposition since a controversial proposal in July.

Tashima said he was announcing his candidacy with the backing of his national association and framed the bid as a values-based appeal. “I am grateful that I can make this announcement with the full support of the JFA. It’s not about winning or losing but about conveying to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built. What Fifa needs now are these values that we have protected. I have decided to run in order to make this appeal to the world.”

Gianni Infantino is seeking re-election as Fifa president. He has faced opposition since July. That opposition followed his failed move in July to bring private investors into a new Fifa commercial entity holding rights linked to competitions including the World Cup.

The announcement of Tashima’s intention to run was reported on 5 November 2026. Tashima is the sitting president of the Japan Football Association. He presented his candidacy as an effort to communicate the values he attributed to Japanese football.

Tashima has declared he will stand in the Fifa presidential contest scheduled for March, directly challenging Infantino’s bid for another term. The March election will determine whether Infantino is re-elected or replaced by challengers including Tashima.