Gianni Infantino, the director of the organization that governs football, has said that FIFA would invite every nation in the world to name a stadium in honor of Brazilian football star, Pele.
He stated this during the late icon’s wake on Monday.
Infantino traveled to Santos, Brazil, to say his final goodbyes to the player who was regarded as the best of all time and passed away on Thursday at the age of 82.
He said, “We’re going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.”
Infantino spoke to journalists at the Vila Belmiro, the stadium where the player known as “The King” first exploded onto the world stage with his exploits for his longtime club, Santos FC.
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. Pele is eternal. He’s a global icon of football,” Infantino said.
FIFA has already honored Pele as the best footballer of the 20th century by flying all national flags at half-mast outside of its Zurich offices on Friday.
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.