Iran football team’s Tijuana training base evacuated after dead body found

Police in Tijuana discovered a decomposing body with visible signs of violence inside the trunk of a gray Toyota van parked near the Iranian national team’s training complex at the Caliente stadium. The vehicle, bearing California plates, emitted a strong odor that prompted officers to investigate; the corpse was wrapped in a black bag and appeared to have been left there for at least three days.

The finding forced the Iranian squad, which is preparing for the 2026 World Cup in Group G, to abandon the facility temporarily while forensic teams conducted their investigation. Mexican security forces assured that safety measures for all teams remain in place as the tournament approaches.