Kozo Tashima confirmed his bid with the official backing of the Japan Football Association following a board meeting in Tokyo. The 68-year-old former Japan forward must secure nominations from at least five national associations ahead of the November 18 deadline to appear on next March's ballot. He enters a contested race that already features former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega challenging incumbent Gianni Infantino. Despite growing dissatisfaction surrounding a failed private investment scheme in July, Infantino remains heavily favored after recently picking up a crucial endorsement from the head of Asian football.
Key points
Tashima is positioning his campaign around promoting the honest, sound, and upright value…: Tashima is positioning his campaign around promoting the honest, sound, and upright values developed by Japanese football.
European associations critical of Infantino and several Southeast Asian nations represent…: European associations critical of Infantino and several Southeast Asian nations represent the core base of Tashima's expected support.
Infantino still maintains a dominant advantage among the 211 voting members, reinforced b…: Infantino still maintains a dominant advantage among the 211 voting members, reinforced by an endorsement from the head of Asian football.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Nov 5 : Japan Football Association Honorary President Kozo Tashima announced on Thursday that he intended to run for the FIFA presidency in next March's election, becoming the first Japanese candidate to seek world football's top job.
The 68-year-old former Japan forward has served on the FIFA Council since 2015 and became JFA president the following year. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto succeeded him as JFA chief in 2024.
"I am grateful that I can make this announcement with the full support of the JFA," Tashima told reporters after a JFA board meeting in Tokyo.
"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. I have decided to run in order to make this appeal to the world."
Nippon Sports said Tashima still needs nominations from five national associations, which is required to stand for election.
He is expected to get support from some South-east Asian countries and European associations critical of incumbent Gianni Infantino.
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