Authorities in Mexico are investigating after a body was discovered near Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, close to the stadium where Iran’s national team has been training ahead of its opening World Cup match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, June 15.
Investigators found the remains inside a grey car after responding to reports of a strong odor coming from the vehicle’s trunk. Police opened the car because of the smell and found a person wrapped in a black bag inside the trunk.
The car had been left in a parking area near the stadium, across from the training site used by Iran during its buildup to the tournament. Iran moved its base camp to Tijuana after visa problems and broader security and logistical concerns disrupted earlier plans to train in the United States.
The victim has not yet been identified, and officials have said the investigation is ongoing. At this stage, authorities have not indicated any link between the discovery and the Iranian team or the World Cup itself.
A spokesperson for the Tijuana prosecutor’s office told the New York Post that there had been ‘signs of violence’.
“Upon inspecting the vehicle, they found a person wrapped in a black bag in the trunk, showing signs of violence.”
Officials also noted that the vehicle had rear-end damage and a license plate frame from a Toyota dealership in Tijuana, the border city next to California.
Tijuana has regularly been listed among Mexico’s most violent cities, with years of killings tied to organised crime and drug trafficking. Rival cartels have long fought for control of key smuggling corridors running across the US-Mexico border.
The discovery comes amid heightened security around the tournament, with the U.S. government having approved $625 million in federal security funding for World Cup host cities and states.
Speaking in March, Robert O’Leary of the US Department of Commerce said:
“When President Trump established the White House task force he set out with a clear mission – to ensure the United States delivers a safe, welcoming and memorable World Cup.”
The competition has been described as the biggest, broadest and most commercially successful tournament in sporting history.
Iran is one of several nations affected by U.S. travel restrictions, but exemptions have been reported for athletes and team staff traveling for the World Cup. Iranian players were granted visas earlier this month, allowing the squad to continue preparing from its Mexico base while some support personnel were still awaiting approval.
Because all three of its group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, the team and coaching staff were required to arrive via Mexico.
A US administration official said:
“We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”
Supporters have also encountered difficulties traveling to the tournament. Iran’s football federation said FIFA revoked the ticket allocation for its fans at the team’s World Cup matches in the United States, adding to a turbulent buildup around the squad.
The visa commonly recommended for fans costs about $183 and requires applicants to attend an in-person interview.