City · May 20, 2026

NYC Council Passes World Cup Legislation: Thierry Henry Way, Pelé Way, and a Small Business Events Map

By WorldCup.NYC Editorial · Published May 20, 2026

The New York City Council passed a package of World Cup legislation this week, including temporary street co-namings honoring two of soccer's most iconic figures, a mandate for a publicly accessible small business events map, and requirements for bathroom access at large fan gatherings. The legislation takes effect ahead of the June 13 tournament opener.

Thierry Henry Way and Pelé Way

Two NYC streets will carry new names through November 1, 2026. The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Virginia Maloney, creates:

• Thierry Henry Way — a thoroughfare near Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, honoring the French legend and current Canada national team head coach
• Pelé Way — a public place in Queens, honoring the Brazilian icon widely considered the greatest player in soccer history

The choice of locations is deliberate. Rockefeller Center will host the official FIFA Fan Village — making Thierry Henry Way a natural gathering point for French fans and soccer supporters generally. Queens, where the USTA Fan Zone is located and where dozens of national communities are concentrated, is a fitting home for Pelé's name.

Both co-namings are temporary and will be reversed on November 1, 2026 — about three months after the Final.

Small business events calendar and map

A separate measure (Introduction 808-A, sponsored by Majority Leader Shaun Abreu) requires a city-designated agency to publish two digital resources at least one week before the tournament starts:

• A public events calendar of World Cup activities submitted by organizers — covering watch parties, street festivals, cultural programming, soccer clinics, art installations, and musical performances
• A digital map of small businesses hosting World Cup events, offering World Cup promotions, or otherwise connected to participating nations

The city agency will also conduct outreach to businesses and event organizers to encourage submissions. For visitors trying to find neighborhood watch parties or culturally relevant businesses, this map should be a practical resource — though it depends entirely on businesses and organizers submitting themselves.

Bathroom access at large events

Introduction 807-A requires organizers of special events with 500+ expected attendees on city-owned land during the World Cup to provide temporary public bathroom access. For fans attending crowded outdoor fan zones and street festivals, this is a practical quality-of-life improvement that addresses one of the most common complaints at large outdoor events.

Why this matters for visitors

The legislation signals that City Hall is taking the tournament seriously as a citywide event — not just a stadium event in New Jersey. The small business map in particular could become a useful tool for visitors trying to find neighborhood-specific watch parties and cultural events tied to their national teams. We'll link to it here once it launches.

The street co-namings, while largely symbolic, will create recognizable landmarks for international visitors navigating Manhattan and Queens during the tournament.

The broader picture

The NYC Council legislation joins a growing list of World Cup preparations across the region. The NY/NJ Host Committee projects the eight MetLife matches will generate $3.3 billion in total economic impact, including $1.7 billion in visitor spending and support for over 26,000 jobs. Whether that number holds depends on how well the city converts visiting fans into spending customers — which is exactly what this legislation is designed to facilitate.