Japan Football Association Honorary President Kozo Tashima announced on Thursday that he intends to run for the FIFA presidency in next March’s election, becoming the first Japanese candidate to seek world soccer’s top job.

The 68-year-old former Japan forward has served on the FIFA Council since 2015 and became JFA president the following year. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto succeeded him as JFA chief in 2024.

“I am grateful that I can make this announcement with the full support of the JFA,” Tashima told reporters after a JFA board meeting in Tokyo.

“It’s not about winning or losing but about conveying to the world the honest, sound and upright attitude that Japanese football has built.

“What FIFA needs now are these values that we have protected.…