Decomposed body found in trunk near Iran's World Cup training base in Tijuana

The discovery

A supermarket security patrol found a body wrapped in a black bag inside the trunk of a gray Toyota SUV with California license plates, parked opposite the Estadio Caliente since Wednesday. The vehicle emitted a strong odor, and specialists in white protective suits later removed the remains on Friday.

“After checking the vehicle, officers found in the trunk a person wrapped in a black bag, bearing signs of violence.”

Iran's players had been training at the stadium daily since arriving on Sunday. The convoy transporting them left the site just minutes after authorities cleared the scene.

Security context

The Iranian team is under heavy escort by National Guard soldiers in multiple vehicles each time it travels between the hotel and the training ground. The security measures reflect the squad's relocation from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana due to ongoing war and tensions with the United States.

A team representative did not immediately respond to questions about whether security would be increased after Friday's discovery.

Tijuana's crime backdrop

Tijuana, a border city plagued by drug trafficking, recorded over 1200 homicides in 2025, making it one of the country's most violent cities. The Estadio Caliente sits less than a kilometer from the US border.

World Cup campaign

Iran will play all its group-stage matches in the United States. The opener against New Zealand is scheduled for the night of Monday into Tuesday in Los Angeles, with subsequent fixtures against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 27. The team is in Group G.