Fifa’s Infantino will ask each country to name a stadium in honor of Pelé | Pele

Fifa will ask every country in the world to name a stadium in honor of Pelé, its president, Gianni Infantino, said on Monday.

Pelé, the Brazilian great 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 are going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with Pelé’s name.”

In April 2021, Rio de Janeiro abandoned plans to name the famous Maracanã Stadium after Pelé after the state governor vetoed it.

Pelé’s coffin was placed inside the Vila Belmiro de Santos stadium on Monday, the club’s home where he has spent most of his career.

Infantino released a statement on the day of Pelé’s death which began: “For everyone who loves the beautiful game, this is the day we never wanted to come. The day we lost Pelé.