TOKYO — Japan's most senior football official has stepped forward as the first serious challenger to Gianni Infantino's hold on world football, announcing on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that he will stand for the FIFA presidency in next March's election. Kozo Tashima, the 68-year-old honorary president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), would be the first Japanese candidate ever to seek the top job in the global game, amid sharp scrutiny of Infantino's leadership. Illustration: A FIFA congress hall during a presidential election, with delegates, a ballot box and the flags of member associations. What Happened Tashima announced his intention to run after a JFA board meeting in Tokyo on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Japanese media reports carried by the Associated Press said board members unanimously agreed to back their honorary president. Tashima said he was grateful to make the announcement "with the full support of the JFA," adding that his campai...