Thousands of people packed a major Mexico City boulevard Saturday in an ambitious attempt to establish a world record for the Mexican wave — fittingly taking place in the nation that gave this popular stadium tradition its name.
The gathering marked the 40th anniversary of when the wave first appeared during Mexico’s 1986 World Cup, though debate continues over its true beginnings, with American audiences also staking claims to early versions of the phenomenon.
Mexico is gearing up to welcome the tournament once again, with games starting June 11, marking its third time as host nation. The country will make history as the first to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times, adding to its previous tournaments in 1970 and 1986.
Saturday morning saw Mexicans and visitors gathering along the Paseo de la Reforma, the major thoroughfare cutting through the capital city’s center.
Many participants donned the vibrant green uniforms of Mexico’s national squad, displaying flags and shouting “Mexico, Mexico!” while raising their arms in coordinated succession, creating a flowing wave of movement across the assembled crowd.
Guinness World Records maintains multiple Mexican wave categories in its official records.
The participation record stands at 157,574 people achieved in the United States during August 2008; Portugal holds the longest wave line record with 8,453 participants in 2007; while Japan recorded the duration record of 17 minutes and 14 seconds in 2015.
A spokeswoman for the Mexico City government explained their goal was establishing a world record specifically for the largest Mexican wave conducted outside stadium walls.
“It’s not about breaking a record, it’s about setting one — this is something unprecedented,” she said. “That’s why Guinness took the evidence away to assess all the elements. There are many things they analyse.”
Teresa Lopez, who made the trip to participate, explained her dual motivation for attending. “We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and to support our national team,” she said. “We are Mexican and we are very proud of our country.”
International visitors also embraced the festive atmosphere. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who arrived in the capital before the tournament begins, found special significance in the event. “It’s a special location, it’s a contribution to a World Cup, and participating feels wonderful,” she said.
