FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces his first serious challenger as Japanese football chief Kohzo Tashima announced his candidacy for the March 2027 election. Tashima, a FIFA Council member and former Japan international, has the backing of the Japan Football Association and is expected to secure the five endorsements needed to become an official candidate. UEFA is working to prevent Infantino from securing another term and is expected to overwhelmingly back Tashima if he emerges as the incumbent's only challenger.
In a potential scenario, Tashima could attract support from anti-Infantio factions within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF. However, the AFC's position remains significant, with president Sheikh Salman performing a U-turn to back Infantino at the confederation's Congress two weeks ago. FIFA's 211 member associations will vote in the election, with a candidate requiring at least 106 votes to win. The deadline for candidates to declare their intention to stand is November 18.
Tashima has held senior positions within the Japan Football Association, including general secretary, vice-president and president, and has served on the AFC's executive committee. Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol suggests Infantino would prefer to stand unopposed, but Tashima could potentially reach the 106-vote threshold with support from UEFA, parts of Asia, and CONCACAF.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing