Kozo Tashima to challenge Gianni Infantino for Fifa presidency

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), announced on Thursday 5 November 2026 that he will run for the Fifa presidency. The vote takes place in March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco, where the Japanese administrator will take on incumbent Gianni Infantino. The Guardian reports that Tashima's bid carries the approval of Uefa, the confederation at the forefront of resistance to Infantino's leadership.

What did Kozo Tashima announce?

Kozo Tashima said he was making the announcement with the full backing of the Japanese federation. According to Mundo Deportivo, citing the EFE agency, he framed the bid as being about principles rather than the result, stressing that his aim is to show the world the integrity that Japanese football has built up.

Tashima described himself as bringing an "honest, sound, upright attitude" to the race. The Guardian expects him to gather the required nominations comfortably. He is only the second person to enter the contest: ex-Spurs centre-back Ramon Vega declared first, but whether Vega can muster enough nominations is still uncertain.

Why is Uefa opposing Infantino?

Uefa has spearheaded resistance to Gianni Infantino since his summer 2026 plan to offload a 20% share of the governing body's commercial arm collapsed. The Guardian says Tashima's bid has Uefa's approval, while kicker notes that a challenger has emerged from Asia just as the European confederation steps up pressure on the Fifa president. However, L'Équipe points out that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Tashima's own confederation, had previously backed Infantino, which raises questions about how much support Tashima can win on his own continent.

Who is Kozo Tashima?

Kozo Tashima is a Japanese football administrator who, according to L'Équipe, became head of the Japan Football Association in 2016. The Guardian and Mundo Deportivo describe him as the JFA's honorary president. A photograph used by The Guardian shows Tashima alongside Infantino in 2019, a reminder that the two have long moved in the same circles of international football governance.

How does the Fifa presidential election work?

To appear on the ballot, a candidate needs nominations from at least 5 of Fifa's 211 member associations. According to The Guardian, the deadline for declaring is 18 November 2026, and the vote will be held in Rabat in March 2027.

1. 2016 — Kozo Tashima takes charge of the Japan Football Association (L'Équipe).
2. Summer 2026 — Infantino's plan to sell a 20% share of Fifa's commercial arm collapses; Uefa leads the resistance.
3. 5 November 2026 — Tashima announces his candidacy, becoming the second challenger after Ramon Vega.
4. 18 November 2026 — Deadline for candidacies.
5. March 2027 — Fifa presidential election in Rabat.

What happens next?

Tashima is expected to formally lodge his candidacy before the 18 November 2026 deadline. Attention will now turn to whether the AFC sticks with Infantino and how Uefa builds a coalition of votes behind the Japanese candidate. The sources carry no response from Fifa or Gianni Infantino to the candidacy. ScoreLab will update this article as the race develops.