Japan Football Association Honorary President Kozo Tashima said governance was FIFA’s biggest problem as he outlined his ​platform for next year’s presidential election, while rating his chances of ‌unseating incumbent Gianni Infantino at 20% to 30%.

Also read | Infantino says he’s supported by ‘vast, vast majority’ of football ahead of FIFA elections

Mr. Tashima ​announced on Thursday (November 5, 2026) that he intended to run ⁠in the March election, becoming the first Japanese candidate to seek world football’s top job.

The 68-year-old former Japan international has served on ‌the FIFA Council since 2015 and became JFA president the following year before being succeeded by Tsuneyasu ‌Miyamoto in 2024.

“I’ve received many messages saying, ‘Thank you for ‌speaking ⁠out’…,” Tashima told Japanese daily Sports Nippon in ⁠an interview published on Sunday (November 8).

“I’ve been contacted by presidents and international department officials from eight countries, including some outside Asia.

“While I haven’t received any formal ​endorsements yet, I’m getting ‌a positive response. Since time is short and I don’t want to be held up by incomplete paperwork, I want to secure support from at least six associations.”

Tashima ‌requires nominations from five national associations, a prerequisite for ​standing in the election.

Candidates have until November 18 to submit nominations for the election, in which ⁠Infantino is seeking a fourth term as head of world football’s governing body.

Infantino came under scrutiny in July after an unsuccessful ‌attempt to bring private investors into a new FIFA commercial entity holding rights linked to competitions including the World Cup.

Despite the criticism, Infantino’s candidacy received a significant boost in October when the head of Asian football publicly endorsed him, while support from several FIFA confederations has left him well ‌placed among the organisation’s 211 member associations.

“I’ll keep what’s good and ​change what’s bad…,” Tashima added. “The biggest problem, however, remains governance…

“Selflessness is my motto… At this stage, I ⁠think my chances of winning are about 20% to 30%, but ⁠as the campaign progresses, I want to raise my confidence to 40% or 50%. I truly want ‌to change FIFA.”

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega was the first candidate to publicly declare his intention to challenge ​fellow Swiss Infantino last month.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election despite growing calls for him to step down as head of world football’s governing body.

Mr. Infantino has faced increasing pressure after his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup was met with a furious backlash.

But FIFA said on Sunday (September 6, 2026) that he plans to stand again in next year’s elections for a final term in office through 2031.

“The FIFA President announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr. Infantino will be standing for re-election,” a FIFA spokesperson said.

November 18 is the deadline for candidates to enter the next presidential contest, exactly four months ahead of the vote.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has led the calls for Infantino to go, saying it had lost confidence in him and previously threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. A number of national associations, such the English FA, have withdrawn support for Mr. Infantino’s re-election.

On Saturday (September 5) Infantino refused to comment about his future when arriving for the opening of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

“There will be a lot to say, but there will be a right place and a right time to say this. It’s not today, it’s not here, but here and today, we are enjoying football,” he told Sky News.

FIFA apologised for errors made over its controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.” But that hasn’t been enough to ease the pressure on Infantino’s position.

UEFA is preparing a criminal complaint against Mr. Infantino in Swiss courts for possible financial mismanagement over his now abandoned plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham added his weight to the debate last month, saying Mr. Infantino was not the right man to lead world foobtall’s governing body.

The heads of six Arab football federations expressed their “full support” and “confidence” in Gianni Infantino on Thursday (August 13, 2026) as the embattled FIFA president fights to keep his job after his failed World Cup private investment plan.

The backing came from 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, with four of the signatories being FIFA council members.

“We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the statement read.

“We deeply appreciate Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together.”

The statement said the signatories “look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football, expanding opportunities and further enhancing Arab football’s contribution to the global game.”

Infantino under fire

Infantino is facing a revolt after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. He withdrew the $20 billion proposal after a furious backlash by global football officials, including European body UEFA, which has warned of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.

UEFA teamed up with CONCACAF — the confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean — and the Asian Football Confederation — and issued an open letter Monday (August 10) saying Infantino’s plan was a “fundamental breach of trust” and described it as “deception.” And on Thursday (August 13), the Football Association of Ireland said in a statement it has withdrawn its support for Infantino to be re-elected as FIFA president in March, saying “recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.”

The football federations in England and Wales did the same last week, while Northern Ireland said it was backing UEFA’s stance.

New Zealand Football, which is part of the Oceania confederation, issued a statement Friday (August 14) local time saying it had withdrawn its support for the candidature of Infantino and was seeking an independent review of steps taken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.

New Zealand football’s governing body said it “formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.” Schism in Asian bloc over Infantino support

By expressing support for Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon aligned against the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino’s official Instagram account previously has posted letters of support from several member federations, including Morocco, Qatar and the UAE.

The four FIFA council members among the signatories were Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya.

The other two were Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Moatasem Gafar, president of the Sudan Football Association.

Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next year in Morocco.

FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.