Kozo Tashima announces bid to challenge Gianni Infantino for Fifa presidency

Kozo Tashima, the Japan Football Association honorary president, announced on 5 November 2026 that he will stand against Gianni Infantino in the upcoming Fifa presidential election. The 68-year-old, a member of the Fifa Council, confirmed his candidacy with support from the Japan Football Association.

Tashima became president of the Japan Football Association in 2016 and is a former international footballer and coach. He said: "I believe it is important to clearly communicate to the world of football the integrity, soundness, and high moral standards that Japanese football has cherished and built up over the years." He added: "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 concluded his statement: "I will take on this challenge with strong determination, making use of the experience I have cultivated so far, and contributing to the further development of world football."

Infantino has faced intense scrutiny since it emerged he had been planning to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. The Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal was abandoned at the end of July after significant backlash from across world football.

While the FFE controversy damaged support for Infantino, his position has been reinforced in recent months. Infantino told BBC Sport last month that he felt he had the backing of the "vast, vast majority" of world football as he bids for a fourth term, and he was described as "fully endorsed" by the Asian Football Confederation after a U-turn by its president, Sheikh Salman.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega was the first person to put their name forward in October for next year's Fifa presidential election. Tashima's entry into the race, backed by the JFA, is set to test the strength of Infantino's supporter base.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the JFA, said: "This decision is a major challenge to contribute to the further development of world football by utilising that experience and knowledge, and at the same time, we believe it will be an opportunity to show the world the ideals and attitudes that Japanese football has cherished."

As with all candidates, Tashima will require the backing of five Fifa member associations. The deadline for candidates to stand in the election is 18 November.