Kozo Tashima announces bid for FIFA presidency

Kozo Tashima announced on Thursday that he intends to run for the FIFA presidency in the election scheduled for 2027. The honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA) could therefore challenge Gianni Infantino. Tashima, 68, said he made his final decision last week.

The announcement came in Tokyo after a JFA board meeting, where the association unanimously backed his candidacy. A former footballer, Tashima played in midfield for Furukawa Electric from 1980 to 1982 and for Japan’s national team from 1979 to 1980.

Tashima welcomed the Japanese association’s support and set out the message he wants to convey: “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.” He also said he currently saw no one able to challenge Infantino, but added that it “would be worse” if Infantino renewed his term without an election.

The vote is due to take place on 18 May at the FIFA congress in Rabat. Tashima’s announcement comes nearly a month after Ramon Vega positioned himself as a potential challenger to Infantino, a move he has now made official.

Infantino is seeking re-election despite calls for him to resign and several controversies, including his intention to sell private stakes related to the World Cup. British media reports say Tashima is expected to secure the required nominations without difficulty and is understood to have acted with UEFA’s backing. His candidacy could split the Asian Football Confederation vote, although other candidates could still emerge.

Infantino, meanwhile, has the backing of several leading countries in the Asian confederation, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as Africa and South America. He is expected to comfortably secure the 106 votes needed for a fourth term.