Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, will run for the FIFA presidency in next March's election, the JFA announced at a board meeting at its Tokyo headquarters on Thursday. The bid puts a Japanese candidate into a race that has been held by Gianni Infantino since 2016.
TV Asahi's "Hodo Station" led its Thursday broadcast with the announcement, and presenter Kensuke Okoshi framed it in one line: "This is a declaration of intent that Japanese football has issued to the world."
At a news conference, Tashima questioned the incumbent directly, criticizing what he described as an "obvious favoritism toward Trump" — a reference to US President Donald Trump — and a "lack of integrity," according to the program. Media in Europe and the US have reported on the bid in quick succession, it said.
A challenge to Infantino
Infantino, a Swiss-Italian official, has led world football's governing body since 2016. A challenge from Asia's most prominent football administrator would test the regional blocs that have kept him in office.
Tashima served as JFA president from 2016 until 2024, when he became honorary president. The JFA board endorsed his candidacy at Thursday's meeting.