A decomposing corpse was found in the trunk of a car parked near the stadium where the Iranian team is training during the World Cup football tournament, in Tijuana in northwestern Mexico, AFP journalists observed on Friday.

This gruesome discovery was made in the parking lot of the supermarket located just opposite the Caliente stadium, where the Iranian team has been going every day since their arrival on Sunday, and a one-minute drive from their hotel.

The car, a gray Toyota SUV, was opened by police, releasing a strong stench. Specialists in white suits worked around the vehicle to examine the body before removing it.

Contacted by AFP, the Tijuana prosecutor's office explained that a surveillance patrol discovered the body.

"Upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed, at the rear of the trunk, the presence of a person wrapped in a black bag, showing signs of violence," according to an initial report.

The suspect car had been parked there since Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office.

In Mexico, Tijuana is often considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country. More than 1,200 homicides occurred there in 2025, according to official statistics.

The war and tensions with the United States forced "Team Melli" to establish its base camp in this California border town - very close to San Diego - rather than in Tucson, Arizona, as originally planned.

Since their arrival, the Iranian team has been surrounded by a massive security detail.

Several vehicles filled with heavily armed National Guard soldiers escort his bus every time the players leave the hotel to go to the stadium. They also accompany them on the return journey.

On Friday, the procession left the stadium just minutes after the body was removed.

When contacted by AFP to ask if the team's security would be reinforced after this discovery, the team's communications manager did not immediately respond.