An unusual incident unfolded on Friday in Tijuana, Mexico, when a body in an advanced state of decomposition was found in the trunk of a vehicle parked near the stadium where Iran's national team is training for the 2026 World Cup.
According to AFP, local police opened the trunk of a Toyota SUV with California license plates that had been parked in a supermarket parking lot opposite Estadio Caliente and found a body wrapped in a black bag.
Forensic investigators wearing white protective suits examined the scene and collected evidence before removing the body. The Tijuana Attorney General's Office said patrol officers had identified the suspicious vehicle.
"During an inspection of the vehicle, a body wrapped in a black bag bearing signs of violence was found in the trunk," a spokesperson for the office said. Authorities believe the vehicle had been abandoned since Wednesday.
The incident occurred during the World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. Iran's national team moved its training camp from Arizona to Mexico due to security tensions and confrontations involving the United States and has been under heavy security since arriving in the country. Players are routinely escorted by armed soldiers between their hotel and the stadium.
Tijuana, located on the U.S.-Mexico border, is considered one of Mexico's most dangerous cities because of the activities of drug cartels. According to official figures, more than 1,200 homicides were recorded in the city in 2025, highlighting the security challenges facing local authorities even as they host one of the world's biggest sporting events.