Honorary President of the Japan Football Association Kozo Tashima has officially announced his intention to run for the presidency of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), thereby throwing a direct challenge to the incumbent president Gianni Infantino. The Japanese official, who has led his organization since February 2016 and is aiming for his fourth term, has for the first time faced a real, rather than symbolic, rival specifically fielded by the European football establishment. According to reports, Tashima has already secured the support of influential allies in Europe, making his figure a pivotal one in an election race that will shape the future of world football for the coming years.
Who is Kozo Tashima and why him
Kozo Tashima is no random figure in this story. A former Japan national team player and current member of the FIFA Council, he possesses both experience on the pitch and a long-standing administrative background, making him recognizable to a broad football audience. In a statement to Sports Nippon, he justified his move with a value-based message: "For me, it is important to convey to the football world the honesty, reliability, and high moral standards that Japanese football has developed and maintained for many years. I decided to run for FIFA president to present these values to the world and contribute to a better future for football." Thus, the campaign is built on the image of a "clean" candidate contrasted with the Swiss leader's long-standing rule.
The UEFA Strategy: A Non-European Candidate
Behind Tashima’s nomination lies a carefully calibrated strategy by the European Football Union, which has been seeking a rival for Infantino for several months. UEFA concluded that a candidate from outside Europe has a better chance of gaining support, as there is lingering discontent in many regions regarding the dominance of European football in FIFA management. This is why European officials purposefully focused on a figure from Asia. According to reports, Tashima has many allies in Europe and conducted talks with UEFA representatives last month during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress in Tokyo. Previously, at the World Football Summit in Madrid and after the UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki, the European side publicly confirmed that it was actively searching for a worthy opponent for Infantino.
Fracture within Asia and the Incumbent's Support
Tashima’s nomination, however, carries the risk of a significant rift within the Asian Football Confederation itself. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has publicly supported Infantino, which means that a portion of Asian votes will remain with the incumbent president despite the emergence of a "regional" candidate. The current FIFA head, in turn, relies on a stable coalition: support from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as the African and South American confederations. Thus, the race is turning into a standoff between two blocks, where Tashima's European project will have to sway votes in at least some of the regions traditionally loyal to Infantino.
Competitive Field and Election Timeline
Tashima became the second official contender for the post after former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega. At the same time, other figures were previously considered in Europe: in particular, it became known that Arsène Wenger will not run for FIFA president, despite the fact that Infantino’s opponents saw him as a potential candidate. To make it onto the ballot, each candidate must secure the support of at least five of the 211 national associations that are members of FIFA. The deadline for applications is November 18, 2026, and the FIFA presidential election will be held on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco.
Context: What is at Stake
The stakes in this campaign go far beyond personal competition. On September 12, Gianni Infantino officially confirmed his intention to run for a fourth term, stating: "My program is very simple, yet very clear: 'Football belongs to everyone, everywhere in the world.' We want to close the gap between big players and the rest." If he wins, his total tenure at the head of FIFA will reach 15 years; the formal 12-year limit does not apply to him because his first period (2016–2019) is considered the completion of Sepp Blatter’s interrupted mandate and is not counted toward the limit. Under Infantino’s leadership over the years, FIFA has noticeably increased its commercial scale: the World Cup was expanded, a new Club World Cup format was launched, record sponsorship contracts were signed, and payments to national associations increased to $8 million each. Against this backdrop, the appearance of Tashima, promoted with an emphasis on "moral standards," is perceived as an attempt by European football to regain influence over the agenda of an organization that has increasingly been associated with the interests of the Middle East and global commercial projects in recent years.
