Can a Japanese stalwart truly shake up FIFA’s leadership? Honorary Japan FA president Kozo Tashima says he’ll contest Gianni Infantino in March’s election.
Tashima follows former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega as the second early challenger, though Vega still needs endorsements from five of FIFA’s 211 members to appear on the Rabat ballot.
The respected former international is expected to secure nominations easily, reportedly with UEFA’s blessing. In my view, his European allies could tip the scales. He met UEFA officials during last month’s AFC congress in Tokyo.
“I’m grateful to announce this with full JFA support,” Tashima told Sports Nippon. “It isn’t about victory; it’s about showcasing the honest, sound, upright ethos Japanese football embodies. FIFA needs those values, and I’m running to make that clear to the world.”
The move is striking, coming right after the AFC congress where president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al‑Khalifa reversed course, publicly backing Infantino despite earlier siding with UEFA and CONCACAF to oust him.
Tashima could fracture the AFC vote and is likely to draw support from Europe and CONCACAF, though additional candidates may still surface.
UEFA has spent months hunting a contender to face Infantino, perhaps concluding that a non‑European challenger will resonate better amid growing resentment over its perceived dominance.
Infantino enjoys backing from key AFC nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as African and South American federations, positioning him to cruise toward the 106 votes needed for a fourth term. Will Tashima’s bid force a tighter race than expected?