Mexican military personnel successfully intercepted and disabled a drone that approached the South Korean football team’s training facility as they readied for their World Cup match against the co-hosts. Utilizing specialized detection equipment, military officials identified an “During our training, there was a drone in the sky,” in the vicinity, prompting them to act to “But fortunately, it was right before we practised our tactics, so it did not impact us. But while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing, so what happened was unfortunate.” it, according to a Mexican federal agent.
Last week, Mexico triumphed in their opening Group A match, while South Korea secured a victory against Czechia on the same day.
It remains uncertain whether the drone had intentions to spy on the South Korean squad. Coach Hong Myung-bo remarked, “During our training, there was a drone in the sky. But fortunately, it was right before we practised our tactics, so it did not impact us. But while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing, so what happened was unfortunate.”
The official did not disclose when the incident took place or if any arrests followed. He noted that multiple drones had been neutralized recently after attempting to breach security zones surrounding stadiums in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey—these are the tournament’s three host cities in Mexico—and near team base camps and fan festivals.
Security Measures Implemented
In March, Mexican authorities unveiled a World Cup security initiative dubbed “Plan Kukulkán,” deploying around 100,000 personnel from federal and local military and police forces. This comprehensive plan encompasses early warning systems, security protocols at stadiums, airports, roadways, and hotels, ensuring the safety of teams, officials, and fans.
In Canada, regulators have prohibited unauthorized drones from flying over World Cup stadiums and several training venues in Vancouver and Toronto as a precautionary measure. These restrictions will remain in effect until July 7, the date marking the last match scheduled in the country.
Previous Drone Incidents
In 2024, the Canadian women’s team faced accusations of employing a drone to surveil a New Zealand training session ahead of their opening match at the Paris Olympics. This controversy resulted in the suspension of two coaching staff members and the dismissal of head coach Bev Priestman by Canada Soccer. The reigning Olympic champions from the Tokyo Games also faced a deduction of six points from their group standings in France.
Canada Soccer concluded that the incident was not an isolated incident but indicative of a broader issue of inadequate oversight within the national teams.
