What Are the Requirements to Run for FIFA President After Former Japan FA Chief Kosho Tashima Challenges Gianni Infantino? - Thairath English

What are the requirements to run for FIFA president after Kozo Tashima, former Japan Football Association president, announced his challenge against Gianni Infantino?

Kozo Tashima, former president of the Japan Football Association and currently its honorary chairman as well as a member of FIFA's executive committee since 2015, has announced his intention to run for FIFA president, challenging the incumbent Gianni Infantino in March.

Kozo Tashima said he is grateful to announce his candidacy with full support from the Japan Football Association. He emphasized that winning or losing is not the main point; rather, it is about clearly communicating honesty, stability, and fairness—values that Japanese football has always upheld.

The candidacy for FIFA president requires meeting four main criteria as follows.

1. At least 2 years of football experience within the last 5 years: Candidates must have played an active role in football at the association level for at least 2 years during the 5 years prior to application. This can be as a football association executive, football organization official, team manager, coach, or professional player.

2. Official endorsement from at least 5 member associations: Candidacies cannot be submitted individually but must be officially nominated or supported by at least 5 FIFA member football associations from different countries.

3. Passing ethics and transparency vetting: All candidates must undergo qualification and ethics screening by the Review Committee and FIFA's independent Ethics Committee to confirm no criminal or corruption records, no violations of FIFA’s code of ethics, and no conflicts of interest in business or football.

4. Submission of application at least 4 months in advance: Candidates must submit supporting documents, official endorsements, and work history to FIFA's general secretariat at least 4 months before the FIFA Congress meeting where the election vote will take place.

Additional requirements regarding term limits: Each term lasts 4 years, and following organizational reforms, FIFA presidents may serve no more than 3 terms, with a maximum of 12 years in office.