What's happened
Tashima has announced his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, becoming the first Japanese to stand for world football’s top job. He argues governance must be cleaned up amid scrutiny of Infantino’s tenure and FIFA’s direction.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Tashima’s bid marks a historic bid by Japan and signals a push for governance reform within FIFA.
- The race centers on integrity and governance amid investor scrutiny of FIFA’s commercial strategies.
- Expect a campaign that emphasizes transparency and accountability; support from Asian confederations could be pivotal.
- The outcome will influence FIFA’s governance reforms and could shape future world football administration.
Forecast: A competitive race with a potential coalition of associations backing Tashima could press Infantino to accelerate reforms; however, Infantino’s established support base may dampen immediate changes.
How we got here
Tashima has a long career in Japanese football, including leadership of the JFA since 2016 and a seat on the FIFA Council. He is running in the March FIFA presidential election, seeking nominations from national associations. His bid follows recent controversies surrounding FIFA and governance, including Infantino’s leadership and related finances.
Our analysis
- Al Jazeera reports that Tashima is seeking six associations’ support and has a track record on governance; - South China Morning Post outlines his background and motivation; - Additional coverage notes Infantino’s incumbency and recent governance scrutiny.
Go deeper
- What associations have publicly backed Tashima so far?
- How might FIFA’s governance reforms unfold if he wins?
- What current voters are saying about Infantino’s tenure?
More on these topics
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Japan Football Association - Football organization
The Japan Football Association or Japan FA is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team, as well as club competitions.
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Japan - Country in East Asia
Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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Gianni Infantino - President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Giovanni Vincenzo "Gianni" Infantino is a Swiss–Italian football administrator and the current president of FIFA. He was elected President of FIFA during the 2016 FIFA Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016.
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Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) - Football organization
FIFA is a non-profit organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It is the highest governing body of football.
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Kozo Tashima - Former football player
Kozo Tashima is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. He is current president of Japan Football Association.
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Kumamoto Prefecture - Prefecture of Japan
Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県, Kumamoto-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [kɯ.ma.mo.to, -toꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,683,115 (as of 1 October 2025) and has a geographic area of 7,409 square kilometres (2,861 sq mi). Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyazaki Prefecture to the southeast, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the south. Kumamoto is the capital and largest city of Kumamoto Prefecture, with other major cities including Yatsushiro, Amakusa, and Tamana. Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the center of Kyūshū on the coast of the Ariake Sea, across from Nagasaki Prefecture, with the mainland separated from the East China Sea by the Amakusa Archipelago. Kumamoto Prefecture is home to Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan and among the largest in the world, with its peak 1,592 metres (5,223 ft) above sea level.
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Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) - Country in the Middle East
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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The United States of America - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.