Thousands of people took over one of the world’s grandest urban boulevards on Saturday, attempting to set a world record for the Mexican wave – naturally, in the country that gave its name to the beloved stadium ritual.
The event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the wave’s debut at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, although its true origins are disputed, with American crowds also claiming early versions.
Mexico is now preparing to host the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, for the third time; it will become the first country to host or co-host the Men’s World Cup three times, after 1970 and 1986.
Saturday morning, Mexicans and tourists lined up on Paseo de la Reforma, the artery that runs through the heart of the capital.
Hundreds of people wore the bright green jerseys of the Mexican national team, waving flags and chanting “Mexico, Mexico!” as they raised their arms in sequence, sending a wave of movement through the crowd.
Guinness World Records already recognizes several categories of Mexican waves.
The largest number of participants was 157,574 people in the United States in August 2008; the longest wave line had 8,453 people in Portugal in 2007; and the longest timed wave was 17 minutes and 14 seconds, recorded in Japan in 2015.
A Mexico City government spokeswoman said the goal was to set a world record for the largest Mexican wave outside a stadium.
“It’s not about breaking a record, it’s about setting one – it’s something unprecedented,” she said. “That’s why Guinness took out the evidence to evaluate all the elements. They analyze a lot of things.”
Teresa Lopez, who traveled to participate in the event, said she came for both the record and the team. “We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and support our national team,” she said. “We are Mexican and we are very proud of our country.”
Foreign visitors were also won over by the atmosphere. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who came to the capital ahead of the tournament, said the occasion was significant. “It’s a special place, it’s a contribution to a World Cup and being part of it is a wonderful feeling,” she said.
