Mexican authorities found a decomposing body in the trunk of a car near where the Iranian men’s national team is training for the World Cup in Tijuana.
Police found a black bag containing a body that showed “signs of violence” in the back of a gray Toyota SUV with California plates.
The car was parked for days in a supermarket parking lot across from Caliente Stadium, where the Iranian team is preparing for several World Cup games in the United States.
Residents had complained about a pungent smell emanating from the car, which is believed to have been there since Wednesday. No details about the person found have been released.
A patrol unit discovered the body, the Tijuana prosecutor’s office said.
“Upon inspecting the vehicle, they found a person wrapped in a black bag in the trunk, showing signs of violence,” a spokesman said.
The car had damage to its rear and had a rear license plate holder for a Toyota dealership in Tijuana, located on the border with California.
Officials in white body suits were seen taking samples from the car’s exterior and later examined the corpse.
Tijuana is known for its high murder rate, which one of the highest in the world.
The Iranian national team will play against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium Los Angeles on Monday.
The team’s appearance in the World Cup comes as the US and Iran have exchanged attacks in recent days and remain locked in a months-long war.