Body discovered outside Tijuana stadium used by Iran's World Cup team

Mexican authorities are investigating the unsettling discovery of a body found outside a stadium in Tijuana, where Iran's national football team is currently based for its World Cup preparations. The corpse was located on Friday in a parking lot directly across from the Estadio Caliente.

Officials reported that the body was found inside a bag within the trunk of a gray vehicle. Police were alerted to the vehicle due to a strong, pungent odor, leading them to open the trunk and discover the remains. The circumstances surrounding the body's presence at the location are now under investigation.

The Iranian national squad chose Tijuana as its training base for the World Cup due to complications with visa processing and travel restrictions affecting its administrative staff and coaches. This move was prompted by security concerns following the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, leading them to abandon their initial training plans in Tucson, Arizona.

Tijuana, a city known for its high crime rates, is one of Mexico's most violent urban centers. According to the Citizen's Council of Public Security, the city recorded 1,219 homicides last year. Despite this, city officials noted a 32% reduction in murders compared to the previous year. The team is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles next week for its opening World Cup match against New Zealand on June 15.