FIFA president Gianni Infantino, on Monday announced that the organization will request that all nations name a stadium in honor of the late football icon from Brazil.
The FIFA boss stated this at Pele’s memorial service in Santos.
“We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele,” Infantino told journalists at the Vila Belmiro.
Infantino was among the first to offer respects in front of Pele’s open casket, which was on display in the center of the field at Vila Belmiro stadium, when he was attending the 24-hour wake alongside the leaders of the South American and Brazilian football confederations.
“We’re here with great sadness,” Infantino said. “Pele is eternal. He’s a global icon of football.”
FIFA’s flags were already flying at half-staff outside its Zurich headquarters on Friday in recognition of Pele, whom the group has dubbed the greatest footballer of the 20th century.
After a protracted fight with cancer, Pele, the only player in history to win three World Cups, passed away in a hospital in Sao Paulo.
After the wake on Monday, there will be a funeral procession through Santos’ streets on Tuesday before a private burial service.
