An unidentified drone was intercepted over South Korea’s closed training camp in Mexico City on the eve of its World Cup match against Mexico. Mexican authorities and FIFA have opened an investigation into the incident, which happened during a private practice session for the Asian side.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said he raised the issue at a press conference and explained that the drone was spotted at the start of training. He said it did not disrupt preparations because the players had not yet begun tactical work. “We noticed the drone above our training immediately, but luckily it happened right at the beginning,” he said. In a separate quote reported from the team, he said the incident was “lamentable” but did not affect them.
Local authorities said the drone was unregistered, and it is still unknown who operated it or why. Mexican media speculated about possible culprits, but FIFA said there are no official suspects at this stage. Mexico City police have launched a formal probe, and FIFA is also examining the case.
No arrests have been made. The incident comes amid reports in recent weeks of several drones entering secured areas around World Cup venues, including stadiums and training facilities. Investigators are now trying to determine whether this was merely a breach of security rules or an attempt to gather information on South Korea before the match, scheduled for 4:00 a.m. local time.
