WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Spotlight : OH, DON’T WORRY: THIS IS ALL OURS

While spectators at the Germany-Spain game in Chicago on Tuesday performed the wave, ESPN commentator Ian Darke informed his American audience that that particular form of fan participation was introduced during the 1986 World Cup tournament in Mexico.

His partner in the booth, former U.S. national player Peter Vermes, set him straight, telling him the wave originated with American football, well before 1986.

“Well, I’d never seen it before then,” Darke said.