Mexican authorities shoot down suspicious drone near the South Korean team base camp

XtraNews Desk: As the South Korean squad prepared for their World Cup match against co-hosts Mexico, a drone buzzed close to their training camp and was caught and brought down by Mexican military troops. According to a Mexican federal agent, military personnel utilised sophisticated technology to find a "unregistered drone" close to the camp and "neutralise" it.

It was not clear if the drone was trying to spy on the South Korean team and the coach, Hong Myung-bo, said: “During our training, there was a drone in the sky,” he said. “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.”

When the incident happened and whether any arrests were made were not disclosed by the officials. The tournament's three host cities in Mexico, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, as well as team base camps and fan festivals, have seen the neutralisation of multiple drones in recent days, he said.

In March, Mexican authorities announced a World Cup security operation known as “Plan Kukulkán,” involving about 100,000 personnel from federal and local military and police forces. Early warning systems, security measures at stadiums, airports, roadways, and hotels, as well as safety procedures for teams, officials, and supporters, are all part of the strategy.

As a security precaution, Canadian officials have prohibited unapproved drones from flying over World Cup stadiums and a number of training facilities in Vancouver and Toronto. The limitations are in place till July 7th, which is the last game that will be played in the nation.

In 2024, the Canada women’s team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session leading up to their opening match at the Paris Olympics. The scandal led to the suspension of two members of the coaching staff and the head coach Bev Priestman, who was subsequently dismissed by Canada Soccer. Canada – the reigning Olympic champions from the Tokyo Games – were deducted six points from their group standings in France.