FIFA will ask every country in the world to name a stadium in honor of Pele, its president, Gianni Infantino, said on Monday.
Pelé, the great Brazilian who won the World Cup three times and scored more than 1,000 goals, died last Thursday at the age of 82.
Infantino, who is in Brazil for Pelé’s funeral, told local reporters: “We will ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums after Pelé.”
In April 2021, Rio de Janeiro abandoned plans to name the famous Maracanã stadium after Pelé after the state’s governor vetoed it.
Pelé’s coffin was placed on Monday at the Vila Belmiro de Santos stadium, the club’s field where he developed practically his entire career.
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Infantino issued a statement on the day of Pelé’s death that began: “For all who love the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pelé.”