The Mexican military shot down a drone near a South Korean training camp in Guadalajara
Mexican military personnel shot down an unauthorized drone near South Korea’s training base in Guadalajara ahead of a World Cup Group A match against Mexico.
According to an Associated Press report, specialized military equipment detected a drone operating near a South Korean camp before it was “neutralized.” A federal official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said authorities intercepted the plane near the team’s training facility.
Authorities did not disclose who operated the drone or whether it was being used to gather information on South Korea’s preparations ahead of Thursday’s match. Mexico opened their campaign with a win over South Africa, while South Korea defeated the Czech Republic in their opening match.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo expressed disappointment at the incident but said it did not disrupt the team’s plans.
“Yesterday, during our training, there was a drone in the sky that we learned about,” Hong said through a translator. “Luckily it was just before we practiced our tactics so it didn’t affect us. But while we were preparing for the match, it was the most important timing so what happened was unfortunate.”
The drone was intercepted as part of security measures for the FIFA World Cup, which runs in Mexico, the United States and Canada until July 19.
A federal official said security forces have dealt with several drones in recent days after they entered restricted areas around stadiums, fan zones and team camps in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. No details were provided on when the latest incident occurred or if any arrests have been made.
Mexico launched its World Cup security program, known as Plan Kukulkan, in March. The operation involves approximately 100,000 members of the military, federal and local police forces. It includes surveillance systems, security checks at stadiums, airports, roads and hotels, along with protective measures for teams, officials and fans.
Canada also imposed temporary restrictions on unauthorized drone flights over World Cup venues and select training sites in Vancouver and Toronto. The measures will remain in place until July 7, when the country’s final World Cup match is due to be played.
The incident comes less than two years after the Canadian women’s soccer team’s controversy at the Paris Olympics. Members of the coaching staff have been accused of using a drone to observe New Zealand training before the teams met in the tournament.
The episode led to the suspension of two staff members and head coach Bev Priestman, who was later fired by Canada Soccer. The Canadian team also earned six points during Olympic competition.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
18 Jun 2026 09:11 IST