Maha Christopher
New York City has temporarily renamed two streets in honour of football legends Thierry Henry and Pele as excitement builds ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to AFP, the initiative is part of celebrations marking the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
City officials unveiled “Thierry Henry Way” at the intersection of West 50th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, recognising the former France international’s contributions to the sport and his impact on football in the United States.
Henry, who was a member of France’s 1998 World Cup winning squad, participated in the ceremony through a video call.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward also enjoyed a successful spell in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, where he played for five seasons before retiring in 2014.
In a similar tribute, New York renamed an intersection in the Queens borough after Brazilian football icon Pele, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
The temporary street names are expected to remain in place until November 1.
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday and will run until July, with the final scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium, which has been rebranded as the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.
