Mexican police found a decomposing body stuffed in the trunk of an abandoned SUV parked directly across from Iran’s 2026 FIFA World Cup training site in Tijuana — a grim reminder of the cartel violence that defines the border city where the Iranian team was relocated after the U.S. denied them access.

Story Snapshot

• Police found a decomposing body wrapped in a black bag inside the trunk of a gray Toyota SUV parked at a Tijuana shopping center across from Iran’s World Cup training stadium.
• The body showed signs of violence, but the victim’s identity and cause of death had not been confirmed as of initial reporting.
• Tijuana prosecutors said there was no immediate evidence linking the discovery to Iran’s team or World Cup operations.
• Iran moved its World Cup base camp to Tijuana after the United States denied visas to members of the Iranian delegation, pushing the team across the border into one of Mexico’s most dangerous cities.

What Police Found Outside the Stadium

Tijuana police and forensic investigators responded to a supermarket parking lot directly across from Estadio Caliente, where Iran’s national soccer team has been training for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Inside the trunk of an abandoned gray Toyota SUV with California license plates, they found a decomposing body wrapped in a black bag. Witnesses told investigators the vehicle appeared to have been sitting there for about three days before anyone called it in.

Multiple news outlets — including Shafaq News, AS, and Ynetnews — independently confirmed the same core facts: a body, a vehicle, a supermarket lot, and a stadium used by Iran’s World Cup squad just across the street. ^[1][2][3] The Baja California prosecutor’s office confirmed the discovery and said the victim’s identity had not been established. Investigators said they saw no immediate sign that the death was connected to Iran’s team or its staff.

Iran Ended Up in Tijuana After U.S. Visa Dispute

Iran’s team did not choose Tijuana on its own. The squad was originally set to train in Arizona, but the United States denied visas to members of the Iranian delegation. FIFA then approved Iran’s request to relocate its base camp to Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego. The move placed one of the world’s most geopolitically sensitive national teams in a Mexican border city with a well-documented history of cartel violence and homicide.

Tijuana has long been one of the most dangerous cities in the world by homicide rate. Bodies found in car trunks are not rare there — it is a signature method used by drug cartels to dispose of victims. That context matters. The discovery near Iran’s camp is disturbing, but it fits a pattern of violence that Tijuana residents deal with regularly, not something unique to the World Cup’s presence.

No Confirmed Link to Iran’s Team — But Questions Remain

Prosecutors were direct: no evidence tied the body to Iran’s players, coaches, or support staff. That is an important fact. Sensational headlines can blur the line between two separate stories — a local homicide investigation and an Iranian soccer team training nearby. Those are not the same story, and treating them as one does a disservice to readers looking for straight answers.

🔴 Corpse found in vehicle outside Tijuana stadium where Iran trains for World Cup

Mexican police discovered a body in a parking lot across from Estadio Caliente in Tijuana on Friday. The corpse was inside a bag in the trunk of a gray vehicle, discovered after officers detected… pic.twitter.com/yQvbcseesD

— NewsTongue (@NewsTongueX) June 13, 2026

Still, the broader picture raises legitimate concerns. The U.S. government’s decision to deny visas to Iran’s delegation forced the team into a city where cartel crime is routine. Whether that was the right call — and what security responsibilities FIFA and Mexican authorities now carry — are fair questions. The investigation is ongoing. The victim’s identity, cause of death, and any connection to World Cup operations all remain unconfirmed. ^[1] Answers will depend on what Baja California prosecutors release from their forensic and homicide investigation going forward.

Sources:

[1] Web – Mexican Authorities Make Gruesome Discovery Outside Iran’s World Cup …

[2] Web – Body found near Iran’s World Cup base in Tijuana

[3] Web – Decomposing body found outside Iran’s World Cup training …