Corpse found in car near Iran World Cup training base in Mexico

A grim discovery was made Friday in Tijuana, Mexico, where a decomposing body was found in the trunk of a car parked near the training facilities of Iran's national football team. The discovery happened as the World Cup, jointly hosted by Mexico, the US, and Canada, is currently underway.

Reporters observed police opening the trunk of a gray Toyota SUV with California license plates in a supermarket parking lot directly opposite Caliente Stadium. This stadium is where the Iranian team, known as Team Melli, has been training in preparation for their upcoming matches in the United States. Specialists in protective suits meticulously examined the corpse before its removal from the vehicle.

The prosecutor's office in Tijuana stated that a patrol unit discovered the body. A spokesperson confirmed that upon inspecting the vehicle, they found a person wrapped in a black bag inside the trunk, exhibiting clear signs of violence. The car is believed to have been abandoned on Wednesday. Recent temperatures in Tijuana have reached up to 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit), with intense sunshine contributing to the rapid decomposition.

Tijuana, a city notorious for its high murder rate and powerful drug gangs, recorded over 1,200 homicides in 2025, according to official statistics. The Iranian national team relocated its training camp to Mexico from Arizona due to ongoing hostilities with the United States, which had previously clouded their participation in the FIFA tournament. Since arriving, the team has been under heavy security, with armed soldiers escorting them between their hotel and the stadium. On Friday, the team's convoy departed the stadium mere minutes after the body had been removed. AFP made inquiries to the team regarding security arrangements but received no immediate response.

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Upon inspecting the vehicle, they found a person wrapped in a black bag in the trunk, showing signs of violence.