A dead body found inside a bag outside a stadium has sparked a police investigation after officers made the grim discovery close to Iran’s training base in Mexico. Mexican authorities said the remains were found on Friday in the boot of a grey vehicle parked in a car park opposite Estadio Caliente in the border city of Tijuana, where Iran’s national football team has been based ahead of its first group-stage match against New Zealand.
Police opened the vehicle after being alerted to a strong smell coming from the car and found the body inside a bag. Iran’s national squad has been using Tijuana as its World Cup base because of visa delays, as well as travel restrictions imposed on the team’s administrative staff and coaches. The team will travel to Los Angeles for its first group-stage match against New Zealand on Tuesday.
Iran had originally planned to base its World Cup training camp in Arizona but was forced to relocate to Mexico because of visa and travel restrictions affecting members of its delegation.
The squad arrived in Tijuana last week and has been using Club Tijuana’s training facilities before crossing into the United States for its matches.
Multiple federation officials and support staff were reportedly denied US entry visas, prompting FIFA and tournament organisers to approve a Mexico-based training camp for the group stage.
Iran have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
The discovery comes as Tijuana is ranked among Mexico’s 10 most violent cities by the Citizens’ Council of Public Security, a Mexican think tank which publishes an annual list of murder rates across the country.
According to city government figures, 1,219 homicides were recorded in Tijuana last year, marking a 32% reduction compared with the number of murders recorded in the city during 2024.
Tijuana sits on Mexico’s Pacific coast next to the United States border and has long been used by criminal groups to smuggle drugs.
The city has also recently been home to thousands of migrants who have been denied entry into the United States.
Iran will continue its World Cup preparations in Tijuana before travelling to Los Angeles for Tuesday’s group-stage clash with New Zealand.
