Police find decomposed body in car near Iran's World Cup camp in Tijuana
Mexican police discovered a badly decomposed body wrapped in a black plastic sack in the trunk of a grey Toyota SUV parked opposite Estadio Caliente, where the Iranian national team is preparing for the 2026 tournament.
The discovery
A police patrol in Tijuana found a grey Toyota SUV with California plates in a supermarket parking lot directly opposite Estadio Caliente on Friday. The vehicle had been sitting there since Wednesday, June 10. Officers opened the trunk and discovered a body in an advanced state of decomposition, wrapped in a black plastic bag.
During the vehicle check, the patrol found in the rear trunk the presence of a person wrapped in a black sack and showing signs of violence.
Security context
The location lies less than a minute's drive from the hotel where the Iranian squad is staying. Tijuana recorded more than 1,200 homicides in 2025, making it one of Mexico's most dangerous cities. Iran was forced to relocate its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana just weeks before the World Cup because of the war and rising tensions with the United States. Since arrival, the players have been under heavy security, escorted by armed soldiers on every journey between hotel and stadium.
Team reaction
The Iranian convoy left the training ground minutes after the body was discovered. A team communications officer did not respond to a question about whether security would be intensified following the find. The Iranian football federation also declined to answer an AFP request for comment.
- Suspicious SUV with California plates parked at the supermarket lot opposite Estadio Caliente
- Police patrol discovers decomposed body in the trunk
- Iranian team convoy leaves the training ground minutes after the discovery
