MEXICO CITY: Thousands of people gathered on one of Mexico City’s main boulevards on Saturday in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest “Mexican wave,” ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The event took place along Paseo de la Reforma, a major avenue through the capital, where participants—many wearing Mexico’s national football jersey—coordinated a synchronized wave of raised arms in an effort to break the record.
The gathering marked the 40th anniversary of the Mexican wave’s popularisation during the 1986 World Cup hosted in Mexico, although its origins remain disputed, with claims also linked to crowds in the United States.
Mexico is set to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026, which begins on June 11, alongside the United States and Canada. The country previously hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986, and will become the first nation to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times.
Guinness World Records officials monitored the attempt, which organisers said was aimed at setting a record for the largest Mexican wave outside a stadium. The final verification will be completed after reviewing collected evidence.
Guinness World Records already recognises multiple categories of Mexican wave records, including the largest participation, longest wave line, and longest timed wave.
Participants included local residents and international tourists, many of whom described the event as both a celebration of football culture and national pride. Officials said the attempt was part of wider pre-World Cup festivities in the capital.