PHOTO: AFP

AFP, Mexico City

Just days before Mexico hosts the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, thousands of football fans gathered in Mexico City on Saturday to attempt a world record for the largest-ever human wave.

The event took place along the iconic Paseo de la Reforma, where participants dressed in Mexico jerseys, waved flags and danced to music in a festive display of national pride ahead of the tournament.

The wave, now a staple of sporting events worldwide, was popularised in Mexican stadiums during the 1986 World Cup. Organisers hoped to celebrate that legacy by creating a wave stretching roughly two kilometres through the heart of the capital.

“I say we’re going to break it. There are already so many of us, and we can do it!” said 31-year-old content creator Sally Aviles. “We’ll make it happen because we’ve always done it -- at every game, in every stadium.”

Adding colour to the event were women dressed as “catrinas” -- skeleton figures associated with Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations -- while members of the La Sonora Santanera orchestra provided a lively soundtrack.

Following instructions from a master of ceremonies, participants raised their arms, dropped to their knees and sprang back up in sequence, creating the familiar ripple effect that swept through the crowd.

For many, the event was about more than setting a record.

“I couldn’t miss out on being part of this wonderful event, on showing the world what Mexico is really like -- the atmosphere, the love, the unity, the peace,” said 55-year-old Gloria Fragoso.

She added that Mexico was “more than ready” to welcome fans for the World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with the United States and Canada.

Later on Saturday, cultural authorities announced on social media that the record had been broken, though no details were provided. Guinness World Records is expected to verify the attempt officially.