Japan FA honorary president Kozo Tashima declares FIFA presidential run against Gianni Infantino

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), has declared that he will run for the FIFA presidency against incumbent Gianni Infantino.

Tashima says he is running with the full support of the JFA, and the BBC also reports that he has the association's backing.

Al Jazeera, the BBC and The Guardian report that candidates have until 18 November to declare. Al Jazeera and The Guardian say the election is scheduled for March, and The Guardian says the ballot will take place in Rabat. According to the BBC and The Guardian, candidates need the backing of five FIFA member associations; The Guardian puts the total membership at 211. The Guardian reports that 106 votes are needed to win.

Al Jazeera and the BBC report that Tashima is 68, while the BBC and The Guardian describe him as a former international. Al Jazeera says he was JFA president from 2016 to 2024. He is reported to be the second declared challenger, after former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega, who put his name forward in October. The Guardian says it is unclear whether Vega has the required backing.

Infantino, 56, is seeking a fourth term, which Al Jazeera describes as his final one. The BBC reports that he came under scrutiny over a plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Al Jazeera refers to an aborted World Cup selloff plan, while The Guardian describes a failed attempt to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's commercial rights. The BBC reports that the plan was abandoned at the end of July after a backlash.

Al Jazeera, the BBC and The Guardian also report that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) endorsed Infantino last month; the BBC and The Guardian say its president reversed his earlier position. The Guardian says Tashima is understood to have acted with Uefa's blessing and held talks with Uefa officials at last month's AFC congress in Tokyo. It reports that Uefa has led the opposition to Infantino. It also reports that he is expected to reach 106 votes, with backing from Africa, South America and several leading AFC countries.

What is disputed

The reports differ on Tashima's FIFA Council status. The BBC describes him as a member. Al Jazeera says he has served on the council, which does not establish whether he is a current member.

What each side says

Tashima says he is running to communicate Japanese football's values, including integrity and high ethical standards, and to contribute to football's development. According to The Guardian, he told Sports Nippon: "It’s not about winning or losing but about conveying to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built."

The BBC quoted Miyamoto as calling the decision "a major challenge".

Infantino told BBC Sport last month that he felt he had the backing of the "vast, vast majority" of world football.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a response from Infantino or FIFA, or a Uefa statement on Tashima. They also do not identify any associations that have formally nominated him.

Analysis

Tashima's first test is the requirement for backing from five member associations, and the reports do not identify any formal nominations. If Infantino's reported support across Africa, South America and parts of Asia holds, reaching 106 votes could be difficult for any challenger. Tashima's statement that the bid is not about winning or losing suggests it could also serve as a platform for his arguments about values and ethics. The picture may become clearer after the 18 November deadline, including whether more candidates emerge and whether Uefa takes a public position.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.