Body found near Iran's World Cup training stadium in Tijuana

Journalists from AFP observed the scene on Friday. The grim discovery was made in the supermarket parking lot directly opposite the Caliente stadium, which the Iranian team uses daily since their arrival on Sunday, and is a one-minute drive from their hotel. Police opened a gray Toyota SUV, revealing a strong odor.

Specialists in white suits examined and then removed the body. According to the Tijuana prosecutor's office, a patrol discovered the body during a vehicle inspection. A preliminary report stated that a person wrapped in a black bag with signs of violence was found in the trunk.

A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office indicated the suspicious car had been parked there since Wednesday. Tijuana is often considered one of Mexico's most dangerous cities, with over 1,200 homicides recorded in 2025. The Iranian team established its base in Tijuana, a border city with California, due to war and tensions with the United States, rather than Tucson, Arizona, as initially planned.

The team has been under massive security since its arrival, with heavily armed National Guard soldiers escorting their bus between the hotel and the stadium. The team's convoy left the stadium just minutes after the body was evacuated on Friday. The communication manager for the Iranian team did not immediately respond to AFP's inquiry ab