Mexican forces intercepted an unregistered drone flying over South Korea's training base ahead of a World Cup match.
An unregistered drone was reportedly intercepted and shot down by the Mexican military while flying over South Korea's training base in Guadalajara on Tuesday. The incident occurred during the team's preparation for their World Cup Group A match against Mexico scheduled for Friday. The drone's presence raised concerns about possible espionage activities. South Korea had beaten the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening Group A match earlier.
South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo commented on the drone disruption during a press conference, stating: 'It did not impact us significantly, but while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing, so what happened was unfortunate.' The manager emphasized that the timing of the event made it particularly troublesome despite no major consequences. The team was focused on their upcoming clash with Mexico, where both sides were looking to secure three points in their World Cup debut.
The interception of the drone was part of a broader security operation implemented across all World Cup host cities. Thousands of personnel and advanced technological resources were coordinated to ensure safety during the tournament. The operation aimed to prevent unauthorized surveillance or disruptive activities ahead of high-profile matches. The incident highlighted the heightened security protocols in place for the event.
This is not the first time a drone has been linked to spying in international sports. In 2024, Canada’s women’s team faced accusations of using a drone to monitor a New Zealand training session before their opening match at the Paris Olympics. Following the allegation, Canada Soccer dismissed head coach Bev Priestman, while two coaching staff members received suspensions. Additionally, the 2020 gold medalists had six points deducted as a result of the incident.