Thousands of people flooded one of the world’s great 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 during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, although its true origins are disputed, with American crowds also clamoring for early versions of it.
Mexico is now preparing to host the tournament, which will begin 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.
On 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 jersey of the Mexican national team, waving flags and shouting “Mexico, Mexico!” as they raised their arms in sequence, causing a wave of movement among the crowd.
Guinness World Records already recognizes several categories of Mexican waves.
The largest number of participants involved 157,574 people in the United States in August 2008; the longest wave line was made up of 8,453 people in Portugal in 2007; and the longest wave was 17 minutes and 14 seconds, recorded in Japan in 2015.
A spokeswoman for the Mexico City government said the goal had been 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; this is unprecedented,” he said. “That’s why Guinness withdrew the tests to evaluate all the elements. There are many things they analyze.”
Teresa Lopez, who had traveled to join the event, said she came as much for the record as the team. “We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and support our national team,” he said. “We are Mexicans and we are very proud of our country.”
Foreign visitors were also enthusiastic. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who had arrived in the capital ahead of the tournament, said she found the occasion significant. “It’s a special place, it’s a contribution to a World Cup and participating is wonderful,” he said.
