The Japan Football Association is backing honorary president Kozo Tashima against Gianni Infantino. The vote is at the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat.

Published 6 Nov 2026, 08:38 GMT

3 min read

Ambassador Kagan meets FIFA President Gianni Infantino (55143209044)

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Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, has said he will stand against Gianni Infantino in the FIFA presidential election in March 2027.

The 68-year-old, a former Japan forward and coach, is a FIFA Council member. He later served as Japan Football Association president, before Tsuneyasu Miyamoto succeeded him in 2024.

Reuters reported that he is the first Japanese candidate for the job. He announced the bid on Thursday, with the association's backing.

Each candidate must secure nominations from five associations belonging to FIFA. FIFA has called the election for the 77th Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March 2027.

Candidatures must be in by midnight, Central European Time, on 18 November 2026.

In a statement carried by BBC Sport, Tashima 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."

"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 said.

"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."

Miyamoto 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."

Who is already with Infantino

Infantino, 56, told BBC Sport last month that he had the "vast, vast majority" of world football with him as he bids for a fourth term. The Asian Football Confederation endorsed him after a change of position by its president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa.

In October, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said: "All 54 CAF Member Associations will support Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election." 3News reported that pledge.

The Guardian reported that Tashima is understood to have acted with UEFA's blessing, after talks with UEFA officials at last month's Asian congress in Tokyo.

The newspaper also said the abandoned plan involved a 20 per cent stake in FIFA's commercial rights. It reported support for Infantino in South America and Asia, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Ramon Vega, a former Tottenham Hotspur defender, said in October that he would stand. The Guardian said it remains unclear whether he has the five nominations required for a place on the ballot.

FIFA will tell the member associations the names of the admitted candidates by 18 February 2027. The electoral period began when the 76th Congress opened on 30 April 2026.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

Kozo Tashima to challenge Infantino for the FIFA presidency

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