Japan's Kozo Tashima enters race against FIFA President Infantino
The honorary president of the Japan Football Association announced his candidacy on Thursday, citing governance as the primary issue in the March election.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Kozo Tashima announced on Thursday that he will run for FIFA president in March, becoming the first Japanese candidate to seek the top position in global football. The 68-year-old former Japan international currently serves as the honorary president of the Japan Football Association. He joined the race after announcing his intent to challenge incumbent Gianni Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term as head of the organization's 211 member associations.
Tashima stated that FIFA's governance structure is its most pressing problem. He outlined his platform on Sunday, noting that he has received positive feedback from leaders in eight countries, including nations outside of Asia. He has not yet received formal endorsements but aims to secure support from at least six national associations to avoid delays in his paperwork. The minimum requirement for a candidate to stand in the election is nominations from five national associations.
The Japanese candidate believes he has a 20 to 30 percent chance of winning the election. He expressed a goal to increase his confidence level to 40 or 50 percent as the campaign progresses. Tashima served on the FIFA Council from 2015 until he became JFA president in 2016. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto succeeded him as JFA president in 2024.
Infantino faces the election after coming under scrutiny in July over an unsuccessful effort to bring private investors into a new FIFA commercial entity. That entity holds rights linked to major competitions, including the World Cup. Despite that criticism, Infantino received a boost in October when the head of Asian football publicly endorsed his candidacy. Support from several FIFA confederations has positioned him strongly for the upcoming vote.
Candidates have until November 18 to submit their nominations. Tashima said he intends to preserve the positive aspects of FIFA's current operations while changing what he considers flawed. He described selflessness as his personal motto for the role. Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham Hotspur defender, became the first candidate to publicly declare his intention to challenge Infantino last month. Vega is a fellow Swiss citizen of the incumbent president.
Tashima told Japanese daily Sports Nippon that he has received many messages thanking him for speaking out. He emphasized that he does not want to be held up by incomplete documentation as the deadline approaches. The election will determine the leadership of the governing body for international football in the years ahead.
