Japanese Challenger Tashima Rates His Chances of Unseating FIFA President Infantino

The newest challenger to Gianni Infantino's hold on the FIFA presidency has given himself a 20 to 30 percent chance of winning football's most powerful seat, while insisting his confidence will grow as the campaign develops.

Kozo Tashima, honorary president of the Japan Football Association, set out his platform on Sunday in comments to the Japanese daily Sports Nippon, identifying governance as FIFA's biggest problem.

"I've received many messages saying, 'Thank you for speaking out'," Tashima told the newspaper.

The 68-year-old, a former Japan international, announced on Thursday that he intends to stand in the March election, making him the first Japanese candidate to seek the top job in world football. He has sat on the FIFA Council since 2015 and became JFA president the following year, holding that role until Tsuneyasu Miyamoto succeeded him in 2024.

Tashima said the early reaction to his candidacy had been encouraging. "I've been contacted by presidents and international department officials from eight countries, including some outside Asia," he said.

"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."

He needs nominations from five national associations to be eligible to stand, and candidates have until November 18 to submit them. Infantino is seeking a fourth term at the head of the global governing body.

Infantino faced scrutiny in July over an unsuccessful attempt to bring private investors into a new FIFA commercial entity holding rights linked to competitions including the World Cup. Even so, his re-election bid gained significant ground in October when the head of Asian football publicly endorsed him, and backing from several confederations has left him well placed among FIFA's 211 member associations.

"I'll keep what's good and change what's bad," Tashima said. "The biggest problem, however, remains governance. Selflessness is my motto. At this stage, I think my chances of winning are about 20 to 30 percent, but as the campaign progresses, I want to raise my confidence to 40 or 50 percent. I truly want to change FIFA."

Tashima is not the only challenger in the race. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega last month became the first candidate to publicly declare his intention to run against Infantino, a fellow Swiss citizen.