{
  "id": 18304666,
  "title": "FIFA Council’s Tashima to challenge Infantino in March elections – reports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/fifa-councils-tashima-to-challenge-infantino-in-march-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T12:23:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/fifa-councils-tashima-to-challenge-infantino-in-march-elections-reports/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "FIFA Council member Kohzo Tashima is planning to challenge incumbent President Gianni Infantino in the upcoming March elections, Japanese media outlets have reported. This comes after Tashima announced his intention to run during a meeting of Japan’s national football federation. As per the Asahi newspaper, Tashima's decision to run for the presidency was unanimously endorsed by the board members of the Japan Football Association (JFA). A report by Nikkan Sports supports these claims. The 68-year-old Tashima, a former national team player, has served on FIFA’s ruling committee since 2015 under then-president Sepp Blatter. He is widely acknowledged for his diplomatic and unassuming approach within the realm of football politics. To mount a challenge for the presidency, candidates must secure formal backing from at least five of FIFA’s 211 member federations, as they will be voting on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. Additionally, they must clear an eligibility check by a three-member panel appointed by FIFA. The European governing body UEFA has been spearheading efforts to identify a candidate to oppose Infantino, with a November 18 deadline to officially enter the race.",
  "summary": "FIFA Council member Kohzo Tashima intends to run for president of the global football body against incumbent Gianni Infantino, Japanese media reported Thursday after a meeting of the national football federation. Tashima is the first serious rival to Infantino to emerge since the FIFA leader provoked a furor in global football in July with a […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Japan FA chief Tashima to challenge Infantino for FIFA presidency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/japan-fa-chief-tashima-to-challenge-infantino-for-fifa-presidency",
        "published": "2026-11-05T10:39:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "Japan FA’s Kozo Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/japan-fas-kozo-tashima-to-stand-against-infantino-for-fifa-presidency",
        "published": "2026-11-05T10:48:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Japan's Tashima to stand against Infantino for Fifa presidency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/japans-tashima-to-stand-against-infantino-for-fifa-presidency",
        "published": "2026-11-05T12:55:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Japan’s Tashima joins FIFA presidential race",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/japans-tashima-joins-fifa-presidential-race",
        "published": "2026-11-05T14:40:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Top Japan FA official to stand against Infantino for FIFA presidency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/top-japan-fa-official-to-stand-against-infantino-for-fifa-presidency",
        "published": "2026-11-05T15:52:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}