TOKYO, October 29, 2026 (DAILYNWZ) — Japan Football Association Vice President Takeshi Okada resigned Wednesday, saying the organization’s handling of issues surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup conflicted with his principles on integrity in sport.
In a statement, Okada said he had built his career around the belief that sport carried an important social responsibility and must be conducted with integrity. He said recent decisions related to the tournament had exposed a fundamental divide between his convictions and the organization’s responses.
“As a sportsman, I cannot accept them,” he said.
Okada’s departure comes a week after Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa pledged the confederation’s support for Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.
Okada acknowledged that aligning with the AFC could be a practical choice for Japan, given its relationship with the regional governing body and the potential consequences for Japanese football. His resignation, however, signals his opposition to the approach taken over the World Cup-related issues.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking another term in an election scheduled for March 2027. His leadership faced mounting calls for him to step down two months ago amid controversy over a proposed commercial arrangement known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The proposal would have transferred part of FIFA’s commercial rights to a private investment firm through a new commercial entity. The rights involved included those linked to FIFA competitions, such as the World Cup.
The plan was abandoned within days of details emerging, drawing criticism from several confederation presidents and major European leagues.
The latest dispute comes as FIFA prepares for the next presidential election, with support from regional governing bodies forming part of the political landscape around Infantino’s bid. The source of Okada’s objections was the organization’s handling of the broader World Cup-related issues, although his statement did not specify each response he opposed.
Okada’s resignation underscores a divide between practical considerations tied to Japan’s relationship with the AFC and his stated commitment to integrity in sports governance.