At the approach of the 2026 World Cup, a symbolic initiative in New York City around Thierry Henry is causing unexpected reactions.
The trauma remains intact in Ireland. In November 2009, the French team secured their qualification for the 2010 World Cup after a famous playoff against Ireland. A match marked by Thierry Henry’s handball before the decisive goal scored by William Gallas in extra time.
Despite the regrets expressed by Thierry Henry over the years, the episode remains deeply rooted in the Irish collective memory. And almost two decades later, this historic frustration has resurfaced in an unexpected and original way.
In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2026 World Cup, held from June 11 to July 19 in North America, New York City is preparing several symbolic activities around the event. According to Radio-Canada, some officials wish to temporarily rename several intersections in the city after football legends.
Among the figures mentioned are Pelé, who could be honored in Queens, and Thierry Henry, whose name could be given to an intersection between 50th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. Virginia Maloney, the originator of this initiative, highlights the strong ties between the former French striker and New York, where he has partly lived for several years after his time with the New York Red Bulls.
But the idea is far from universally accepted among the American-Irish community, still marked by the 2009 playoff. “It broke my heart. It’s a bad idea,” “I don’t want to speak for all of Ireland, but at the time, I felt rage,” “It’s a low blow, a shot below the belt”: reactions have been multiplying in recent days, proving that the memory remains very sensitive for many Irish supporters. Now it remains to be seen whether this future “Thierry Henry Way” will actually come to fruition this summer, as other football legends’ names could still be proposed before the city council vote.
