South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo described the incident involving a drone near his team's training camp as 'unfortunate,' but confirmed it did not disrupt their tactical preparations. The drone was intercepted by Mexican military forces using specialized equipment, according to a federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Drone neutralized near South Korean camp
Mexican military forces brought down an 'unregistered drone' that flew near the South Korea team's training camp ahead of their World Cup match against Mexico. The official told the Associated Press that the drone was neutralized after being detected. It remains unclear whether the drone was attempting to spy on the South Korean team or if any arrests were made.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo stated: 'During our training, there was a drone in the sky that we came to know about. 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.'
Security measures for World Cup
The Mexican operation was part of the 'Plan Kukulkán' security plan, which involves approximately 100,000 personnel from federal and local military and police forces. The plan includes early warning systems, security at stadiums, airports, roads, and hotels, as well as protection protocols for teams, officials, and fans. The official 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.
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 7 July, the date of the last game scheduled in Canada.
Previous drone spying scandal
In 2024, the Canadian women's national team faced a spying scandal after being accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session before their opening match at the Paris Olympics. The incident led to sanctions, including the suspension of two coaching staff members and head coach Bev Priestman, who was later dismissed. Canada Soccer determined that the incident was part of a pattern of insufficient oversight within the national teams.
