World Cup
Mexico City chases world record for largest Mexican wave ahead of World Cup
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 the beloved stadium ritual its name.
The event commemorates the 40th anniversary of the wave’s debut during the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico, though its true origins are disputed, with American crowds also claiming early versions of it.
Mexico is now preparing to host the tournament, with kick-off on June 11, for a third time; it will become the first country to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times, following 1970 and 1986.
On Saturday morning, Mexicans and tourists had lined up on the Paseo de la Reforma, the artery that runs through the heart of the capital.
Hundreds wore the bright green jersey of the Mexican national team, waving flags and chanting “Mexico, Mexico!” as they threw up their arms in sequence, sending a rolling swell of motion through the crowd.
Guinness World Records already recognises several categories of Mexican waves.
The largest by participants involved 157,574 people in the United States in August 2008; the longest wave line consisted of 8,453 people in Portugal in 2007; and the longest timed wave was 17 minutes and 14 seconds, recorded in Japan in 2015.
A spokeswoman for the Mexico City government said the objective 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 something unprecedented,” she said. “That’s why Guinness took the evidence away to assess all the elements. There are many things they analyse.”
Teresa Lopez, who had travelled to join the event, said she came for both the record and the team. “We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and to support our national team,” she said. “We are Mexican, and we are very proud of our country.”
Visitors from abroad were also swept up in the spirit. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who had come to the capital ahead of the tournament, said the occasion felt meaningful. “It’s a special location, it’s a contribution to a World Cup, and participating feels wonderful,” she said.
-Reuters
Own goals are rapidly becoming one of the defining statistical features of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Australia’s Cameron Burgess becoming the seventh player to inadvertently score against his own team.
Burgess’s unfortunate contribution came during Australia’s 2-0 Group D defeat to the United States, adding his name to a growing list of players who have experienced one of football’s most painful moments on the sport’s biggest stage.
The tally of seven own goals after the opening rounds of matches highlights an unusual trend at the tournament and has sparked debate among analysts over the reasons behind the phenomenon.
Among the possible explanations are the increased pace of modern football, relentless high pressing, defensive fatigue, and the pressure created by technically gifted attacking players.
Before Burgess’s own goal, six other players had already found the wrong net.
The US have twice benefited from own goals at the World Cup 2026
Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla was the first to suffer the misfortune, followed by Egypt defender Mohammed Hany. Iraq captain Aymen Hussein and Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab also endured similar moments, while Qatar’s Mohamed Al-Mannai and Switzerland’s Miro Muheim completed the unwanted list.
While own goals have always been part of football, their frequency at the 2026 tournament has made them a notable talking point, with several matches significantly influenced by defensive errors and unfortunate deflections.
As the World Cup progresses, teams will be hoping to tighten up at the back and avoid joining a list that no player wishes to be part of.
World Cup 2026 Own Goals So Far
| Player | Country |
| Damian Bobadilla | Paraguay |
| Mohammed Hany | Egypt |
| Aymen Hussein | Iraq |
| Yazan Al-Arab | Jordan |
| Mohamed Al-Mannai | Qatar |
| Miro Muheim | Switzerland |
| Cameron Burgess | Australia |
Quick Facts
- Total own goals: 7
- Latest own goal: Cameron Burgess (Australia vs USA)
- Teams affected: Paraguay, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Switzerland and Australia
- Tournament trend: Own goals have featured prominently during the group stage and have become one of the notable statistical storylines of World Cup 2026.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK
Norway will look to strengthen their position in Group A when they take on Senegal in a potentially decisive FIFA World Cup 2026 encounter.
Much of the spotlight will once again fall on prolific striker Erling Haaland, who arrives in scintillating form. The Manchester City forward has scored an astonishing 22 goals in his last 11 competitive appearances for Norway and remains the Scandinavians’ biggest attacking threat.
Norway’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage could hinge on Haaland maintaining that remarkable scoring run against a Senegal side renowned for their resilience and tournament experience.
The West Africans have built a reputation as difficult opponents on the global stage and possess an impressive record in second group-stage matches at the World Cup. Senegal have never lost their second fixture in the competition, recording one victory and two draws in their previous appearances.
With both teams eyeing a place in the last 32, the clash promises to be a fascinating battle between Norway’s attacking firepower and Senegal’s disciplined, organised approach.
A victory for either side would provide a significant boost to their qualification ambitions ahead of the final round of group matches.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK.
History could be made when Argentina take on Austria in Group E as Lionel Messi bids to become the outright leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
Already among the most celebrated players the game has known, Messi has another opportunity to add to his remarkable legacy on football’s biggest stage. The Argentine captain will be the focal point as the South Americans seek to secure another important result in their quest for World Cup glory.
Standing in their way is an Austrian side contesting its 31st World Cup match. Interestingly, Austria have never been involved in a goalless draw at the finals, a statistic that suggests goals could once again be on the agenda.
Meanwhile, Jordan continue their search for a first-ever FIFA World Cup point when they face Algeria in another intriguing contest.
The Jordanians have shown admirable determination on their World Cup debut but now face an Algerian side eager to strengthen its position in the group.
The fixture also carries historical significance for Algeria. It comes exactly 12 years after the Desert Foxes defeated the Republic 4-2 in Brazil, their biggest victory margin in World Cup history and their only previous finals meeting with an Asian Football Confederation opponent.
Algeria will be hoping that the anniversary proves a good omen as they seek another positive result against AFC opposition, while Jordan aim to make history by collecting their first points on the world stage.
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Own Goals Emerging as an Unwanted Trend at World Cup 2026
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