New York Streets Renamed After PELE of Brazil and THIERRY HENRY, as 2026 FIFA World Cup Begins

All is set for the showdown to begin at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the opening ceremony taking place in Mexico today, June 11, 2026.

The tournament is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and the first game is between Mexico and South Africa in Group A, which kicks off at 1:00PM Central Standard Time, which is about 7PM in Nigeria.

Meanwhile; authorities in New York, United States, have temporarily renamed streets in honour of two football icons, THIERRY HENRY and PELE of Brazil.

Reports indicate that crowds gathered at West 50th Street and 6th Avenue in downtown Manhattan to mark the unveiling of “Thierry Henry Way” by city officials.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona star, who won the 1998 World Cup with the France squad, made an appearance via video call.

The city also renamed the intersection of Shea Road and Meridian Road, in the Queens borough, after Brazilian legend PELE.

The street names will stay in place until November 1, about four months after the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be played at the MetLife Stadium, which has been rebranded as the New York New Jersey Stadium.