On June 6, thousands gathered along Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City to attempt setting the world record for the largest Mexican wave in an urban setting ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting June 11 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The event aimed to establish a record distinct from the current largest wave held inside a stadium.
The Mexican wave, widely recognized today, gained global fame during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City but its true origins are debated. Krazy George, an American fan, is credited with leading the earliest known wave in 1981 at a baseball game in California, saying, "The place was going crazy. The first two attempts failed, but on the third the wave went all the way around the stadium, and on the fourth it became continuous" [1, 2, 5, 3].
The current Guinness World Record for the largest Mexican wave was set in 2008 with 157,574 participants at a NASCAR event in Tennessee, USA [1, 2, 5, 3]. Mexican officials aimed to beat that number in a unique urban environment outside of a stadium. A government spokeswoman said, "It's not about breaking a record, it's about setting one — this is something unprecedented. That's why Guinness took the evidence away to assess all the elements. There are many things they analyse" [2].
Among those taking part, participant Teresa Lopez said, "We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and to support our national team. We are Mexican and we are very proud of our country" [2].
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 12 in Mexico City with an opening ceremony at Azteca Stadium featuring artists Shakira, J Balvin, and Burna Boy, followed by Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa [6, 7]. The stadium holds an estimated 82,000 people [7]. Fan Javier Pérez said, "We are lucky to have reception tickets, this is a rare experience. I’ve never seen a World Cup before, being here with my family is great" [7].
Ahead of and during the tournament, thousands staged protests including teachers and families of missing persons near the Zócalo fan zone, occasionally clashing with police and blocking streets [7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reassured the public on June 8, "We are going to guarantee... that the celebration of the World Cup is well-executed, in peace and tranquility" [8]. That same day, authorities discovered 59 homemade explosive devices on a bus convoy entering Mexico City, raising security concerns [8, 9, 10].
Guinness World Records officials are currently analyzing footage from the June 6 wave attempt to confirm if a new record was achieved [2, 3, 4].
