Takeshi Okada quits Japan soccer role over FIFA re-election politics

Takeshi Okada, a 70-year-old former Japan national team manager, resigned as vice president of the Japanese soccer federation on Saturday. The departure came 24 hours after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) publicly reversed its stance to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Japan’s soccer body published Okada’s resignation statement on Wednesday. Okada, who coached Japan at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, cited the political maneuvers surrounding Infantino’s campaign for a fourth presidential term as the primary reason for his exit. The election is scheduled for March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

Okada stated in his resignation letter that he believes sports should embody integrity. He described the recent actions surrounding the World Cup as a divergence from his personal convictions, writing, "As a sportsman, I cannot accept this." He acknowledged that Japan faces practical reasons for aligning with the AFC’s stance but could not reconcile that position with his own values.

Infantino has faced criticism since July over a failed plan to sell a stake in World Cup profits to private investors. The investors were led by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner. Infantino also faced backlash from soccer leaders in Europe and North America regarding his management style and ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had joined UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani in August to criticize Infantino. They accused the FIFA chief of deception and a fundamental breach of trust. However, the AFC changed its position last Friday when Sheikh Salman announced the organization would endorse Infantino.

Japan aims to host the men's World Cup before 2050. Federation president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto previously supported Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 edition. The AFC, which controls 46 of the 211 FIFA member federations, plays a key role in the March election. Infantino has promised each of the 211 members $25 million in development funds over the next four years.

UEFA has committed to selecting a challenger for Infantino by a November 18 deadline. The 211 member federations effectively own FIFA, which operates as a Switzerland-based non-profit organization. Infantino retains the support of Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, and has regained trust from Saudi Arabia, the host of the 2034 tournament.