The government of Guinea-Bissau has announced that the stadium in the town of Bafatá is to be named after Pelé. The decision was in response to Gianni Infantino’s recent suggestion that FIFA's 211 member associations each name at least one stadium or football venue after the Brazilian legend.

The decision was made during a session of the Council of Ministers, headed by President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. “As an expression of the public recognition of his status as the king of world football, the Council of Ministers has decided that the regional stadium of Bafatá will be given the name Rei Pelé in response to the appeal from the FIFA President,” it said.

"My deepest gratitude goes to President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the government of Guinea-Bissau and the Bissau-Guinean Football Federation for honouring the memory of the eternal king by renaming the Estádio da Rocha in Bafatá as the Pelé Stadium," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Cabo Verde has said it plans to name its Estádio Nacional after Pelé, who passed away on 29 December. In Colombia, the Bello Horizonte stadium in the city of Villavicencio will also be named after the Brazilian icon.

Gianni Infantino made his suggestion while attending a memorial for Pelé in Santos, Brazil, on 2 January. He said it would ensure that future generations around the world would know about Pelé and what he did for football. The stadium is home to Sporting Clube do Bafatá who play in the top flight of Guinea-Bissau’s national championship.