Thousands of people filled Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, attempting a world record for the largest Mexican wave outside a stadium.
The event marked 40 years since the stadium ritual became globally linked with the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In addition, Mexico is preparing to host the men’s World Cup for a third time. The tournament is set to kick off on June 11.
Mexicans and tourists lined the capital’s main boulevard in the morning. Many wore bright green national team jerseys, waved flags and chanted “Mexico, Mexico!” as the wave moved through the crowd.
A Mexico City government spokeswoman said the aim was to set a new category record rather than break an existing one. She said Guinness World Records had taken evidence from the event for assessment.
Guinness already recognises several Mexican wave records. The largest by participants involved 157,574 people in the United States in August 2008. Meanwhile, the longest wave line involved 8,453 people in Portugal in 2007.
The longest timed wave lasted 17 minutes and 14 seconds in Japan in 2015. Teresa Lopez, who travelled to join the event, said she came to support the national team and take part in the world’s biggest wave attempt.
Read: 2026 FIFA World Cup Odds Put Spain, France at +475
Tourist Vivia Shivers said the location and World Cup connection made the event feel meaningful. She said taking part “feels wonderful.”
Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986. It will become the first country to host or co-host the men’s tournament three times.
