FIFA will ask every country IN THE WORLD to name a stadium after Pele.
The legendary Brazilian passed away last week at the age of 82, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino has revealed one way he will be asking countries to pay their respects.
He told local reporters on Monday: “We are also going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.”
The request comes as mourners line the streets outside of Santos’ football stadium in order to pay their respects.
Part of Pele’s funeral is being held at the stadium.
His coffin has been placed in the middle of the pitch and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours before a procession through the streets of Santos to celebrate the icon.
READ MORE ON PELE
Visitation started at 10am today and will finish on Tuesday at the same time.
It will then be carried past the house of Pele’s 100-year-old bedbound mother, Celeste.
From there he will be taken to the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, where only family members will attend.
It stands between skyscrapers and lush forests and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the tallest vertical cemetery in the world with 14 storeys and 14,000 vaults.
Most read in Football
It also contains a tropical garden that includes a small rooftop cafe, a waterfall and a classic car museum.
Nicknamed The King, Pele won three World Cups with Brazil between 1958 and 1970, the only player in football history to achieve the feat.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
