The Mexican military intercepted and brought down a drone that flew near the South Korea national team's training camp during preparations for their World Cup match against co-hosts Mexico. A federal agent confirmed that specialized equipment detected an unregistered drone near the camp, prompting forces to neutralize it.
No Impact on Tactics
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo addressed the incident, stating: "During our training, there was a drone in the sky. 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."
Broader Security Concerns
The official did not specify when the incident occurred or whether any arrests were made. He noted that several drones had been neutralized in recent days after attempting to enter security zones around stadiums in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, as well as team base camps and fan festivals.
Mexico won their opening Group A match last week, while South Korea defeated Czechia on the same day.
Security Measures in Place
In March, Mexican authorities announced a World Cup security operation called "Plan Kukulkán," involving approximately 100,000 personnel from federal and local military and police forces. The plan includes early warning systems, security measures at stadiums, airports, roads, and hotels, as well as protection protocols for teams, officials, and fans.
In Canada, authorities have banned unauthorized drones from flying over World Cup stadiums and several training sites in Vancouver and Toronto. These restrictions remain in effect until July 7, the date of the last game scheduled in the country.
Previous Drone Incident
In 2024, the Canada women's team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session before their opening match at the Paris Olympics. The scandal led to the suspension of two coaching staff members and head coach Bev Priestman, who was later dismissed by Canada Soccer. Canada, the reigning Olympic champions from Tokyo, were deducted six points from their group standings in France. Canada Soccer determined the incident was part of a pattern of insufficient oversight within the national teams.
