# Trump Ally Gianni Infantino Faces Serious Challenger To His FIFA Presidency

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-ally-gianni-infantino-faces-serious-challenger-to-his-fifa-presidency/
- Published: 2026-11-06T11:13:01+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T21:57:49+00:00
- Original publisher: HuffPost (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fifa-infantino-challenger_n_6aedb582e4b00ab0613d3ebb
- Topics: Asia, Football, Government, Politics, Sport, World

## Key points

- Kohzo Tashima plans to challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA president.
- Japan’s football association board reportedly backed Tashima unanimously.
- Infantino’s bid for a fourth term faces scrutiny over FIFA’s term limits.

## Summary

FIFA council member Kohzo Tashima intends to challenge Gianni Infantino for the presidency, according to Japanese media, making him the first serious rival to emerge ahead of the nomination deadline. His candidacy comes as Infantino faces the biggest crisis of his 11-year leadership, following backlash over a proposed sale of stakes in future World Cup profits and criticism of FIFA’s handling of disciplinary cases.

Tashima, 68, is a former Japan midfielder and football association president who has served on FIFA’s ruling committee since 2015. Japan’s football association board reportedly unanimously backed him; candidates need support from five of FIFA’s 211 member federations, and members will vote on 18 March in Rabat. Infantino is expected to seek a fourth term through 2031, despite FIFA’s rules limiting presidents to three full terms and 12 years; FIFA’s legal advice says his initial 2016–19 term does not count towards that limit.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.