Body Found in Trunk Near Iran National Team Training Site in Tijuana

A decomposed body was found Friday in Tijuana, Mexico, inside the trunk of a vehicle parked near the stadium where Iran's national soccer team is training for the 2026 World Cup. According to AFP, police opened the trunk of a Toyota SUV with California plates in a supermarket parking lot across from Estadio Caliente and discovered the body wrapped in a black bag.

Forensic officers in white protective suits later examined the scene and collected evidence before removing the body. The Tijuana attorney general's office said patrol officers first identified the suspicious vehicle. A spokesman said, “During the inspection of the vehicle, a body of a person wrapped in a black bag and showing signs of violence was found in the trunk.”

Authorities believe the vehicle had been abandoned as early as Wednesday. The discovery came during the World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. Iran moved its training camp from Arizona to Mexico because of security tensions and clashes with the United States.

The Iranian team has been under heavy protection since arriving, with players routinely escorted by armed soldiers between their hotel and the stadium. Tijuana, on Mexico’s border with the United States, is considered one of the country’s most dangerous cities because of cartel activity. Official figures show more than 1,200 murders in the city in 2025.