Body found in car near Iran's World Cup base; Mexico investigates

A grim discovery was made near the Iranian national football team's World Cup training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, when authorities found a dead body in a car. Police were alerted by a strong odor emanating from a parked SUV, which was found to contain a body wrapped in a black bag in the trunk.

The vehicle, a gray Toyota SUV with California plates, was abandoned in a supermarket parking lot just meters from the Estadio Caliente, where the Iranian team was training. Authorities made the discovery on Friday, June 12, while players were on the field.

Mexican authorities stated that the body showed signs of violence. The incident occurred in Tijuana, a city known for its high crime rate, which recorded over 1,200 homicides in 2025. The discovery also takes place against the backdrop of increased security measures for the Iranian team due to ongoing tensions with the United States.

The Iranian team is traveling under strict security, with armed military personnel present even at training sessions. The U.S. has also imposed visa restrictions on Iranian team staff, citing security concerns. These diplomatic challenges have impacted the team's preparations, including a change in their training base location from Arizona to Mexico.

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Following the inspection of the vehicle, a person wrapped in a black bag was found in the trunk, showing signs of violence.