A disturbing discovery has marred the Iran national football team's preparations for the World Cup in Mexico, where the team has been training ahead of their group stage match against New Zealand. According to Mexican authorities, a body was found in a parking lot outside Estadio Caliente stadium in the border city of Tijuana on Friday.
The remains were discovered in a gray vehicle, which was opened by police due to its strong odour. Iran's national squad has been using Tijuana as their base during the World Cup due to visa delays and travel restrictions imposed on the team's administrative staff and coaches.
Tijuana has been plagued by high levels of violence, with the city government recording 1,219 homicides last year, a 32 percent reduction from the number of murders recorded in 2024. The area has also been used by criminal groups to smuggle drugs and has recently hosted thousands of migrants who have been denied entry into the United States.
The Iran team will travel to Los Angeles for their first group stage match against New Zealand's All Whites on Tuesday, where they will hope to put this tragic discovery behind them. The incident is a sobering reminder of the challenges and risks faced by football teams when competing in international tournaments, particularly in volatile regions.