Body found close to Iranian squad's World Cup practice facility

National Guard officers have been stationed outside the hotel where Iran's players are residing in Tijuana, Mexico, since their arrival on June 7, 2026, as the FIFA 2026 World Cup football tournament approaches.

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A disturbing discovery was made on Friday, when a rotting body was found in the trunk of a car parked near the stadium where Iran's World Cup football team is training in Mexico, as reported by AFP journalists at the scene.

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The FIFA 2026 World Cup football tournament, jointly hosted by Mexico, the US, and Canada, is currently underway, with the gruesome find occurring amidst the games.

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Reporters witnessed police in Tijuana opening the trunk of a gray Toyota SUV with California plates, parked in the parking lot of a supermarket directly across from the Caliente Stadium, where Team Melli is training for three games in the United States.

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Specialists in white protective suits examined the corpse and worked around the vehicle before removing it, as part of the investigation into the discovery.

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The prosecutor's office in Tijuana revealed that the body was discovered by a patrol unit, with the vehicle believed to have been abandoned on Wednesday, and the corpse showing signs of violence, wrapped in a black bag in the trunk.

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Temperatures in Tijuana have soared up to 28 celsius (82 Fahrenheit) in recent days, with the city experiencing hot sunshine for hours every day, exacerbating the decomposition of the body.

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Mexico is grappling with the presence of powerful drug gangs and has one of the world's highest murder rates, making it a challenging environment for the tournament.

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Tijuana, situated on the border with the United States, is particularly notorious for its high crime rate, with over 1,200 homicides recorded in 2025, according to official statistics, posing a significant security concern.

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The Iranian national team, whose participation in the FIFA tournament was initially uncertain due to the war with the United States, had initially planned to hold their training camp in Arizona but relocated to Mexico amid ongoing hostilities.

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Since their arrival, the team has been under heavy security, with armed soldiers escorting them between the hotel and the stadium, highlighting the tense situation.

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The team's convoy departed the stadium just minutes after the body had been removed on Friday, with no immediate response from the team regarding their security arrangements.