The funeral is preparing in a Brazil bereaved by the death of Pelé

Aerial view of the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil, December 25, 2022. © Matias Delacroix/AP

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1 min

Brazil wakes up Friday for the first time in 82 years without Pelé, the "King" of football who died the day before and for whom the country begins a three-day national mourning.

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With our special correspondent in Santos,

This morning, Santos woke up in the fog, under a fine rain.

The city is still a bit sleepy after the shock of Pelé's death.

But, on the organizational side, everything is ready.

The day before, a decree announced an "

 " of three days, "

 ".

A device has already been installed in the city's football stadium.

A funeral wake, open to the public, will take place on Monday and will last 24 hours, at the stadium of Santos FC, the club where the eternal number 10 shone from 1956 to 1974. The coffin will be placed in the center of the football field that Pelé walked on for years.

Supporters will be able to pay their last respects to him on Monday 2 January.

Many people are expected in the port city 80 km from Sao Paulo, which has decreed a seven-day mourning period.

And then, a parade is planned through the city of Santos, before the burial ceremony in the intimacy of the family which will take place on Tuesday, January 3.

Sadness

On the spot, sadness dominates: that of his relatives, former teammates of Santos.

And then also, there is also that of everyone who has seen Pelé in action here in Santos.

One of them said: “ 

 »

►Also read: Pelé, a national legend for all Brazilians

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