Former World Cup coach quits Japanese soccer role over Infantino politics

Takeshi Okada, the coach who led Japan to the World Cups in 1998 and 2010, resigned as vice president of the Japan Soccer Association on Wednesday. The 70-year-old official stated that his departure was a protest against the political maneuvering surrounding FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s bid for a fourth term. Okada’s resignation letter, dated Saturday, was published by the Japanese federation 24 hours after the Asian Football Confederation reversed its position to support Infantino.

The shift in stance occurred following an assembly in Tokyo last Friday. Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC president and a member of the Bahraini royal family, announced that the confederation would endorse Infantino. This decision followed a period of tension in which Al Khalifa, alongside UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani, had publicly criticized Infantino in August. They accused the FIFA chief of deception and a fundamental breach of trust regarding a $4.2 billion deal with private investors led by Joshua Kushner.

Japan’s position is complicated by its ambition to host the men's World Cup before 2050. Federation president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto confirmed this goal during an online meeting of the AFC in October 2023. Okada acknowledged these practical reasons for aligning with the AFC’s stance but expressed that the actions surrounding the World Cup diverged from his personal convictions. He wrote, “As a sportsman, I cannot accept this.”

Infantino has faced growing opposition since July over a failed plan to sell a stake in World Cup profits and his management style, which includes ties to U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite initial criticism from Asian leaders, Infantino retained support from Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup. He also regained the public backing of Saudi Arabia, which hosted him in Jeddah this month. Saudi Arabia and Qatar serve as major power brokers in Asian soccer, a dynamic that influenced the AFC’s recent decision.

The AFC now represents 46 of the 211 FIFA member federations who will vote in the presidential election scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco. The 211 members, which effectively own the Switzerland-based non-profit organization, have been promised $25 million each for development projects and operating costs over the next four years. UEFA has committed to selecting a challenger to Infantino by a deadline of November 18.

Controversy continued after the Tokyo meetings. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, a former FIFA vice president, posted on social media that the final AFC meeting was “pure politics at the behest of Gianni Infantino.” He claimed that no amount of coercion, threats, or bribes should be allowed and that Asia was not united behind the incumbent president. The AFC responded by calling the accusations unsubstantiated and referred the matter to its judicial officials for possible disciplinary action.

The election will determine the future leadership of FIFA, with Infantino seeking a final term. The outcome hinges on the votes of the 211 member associations, many of whom are currently aligned with the AFC’s endorsement. UEFA’s search for a rival candidate concludes on November 18, leaving a narrow window for other potential challengers to enter the race.