South Korea reports drone incident at Mexico World Cup training session

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The South Korean Football Association has reported to FIFA that a drone spotted over its training session in Zapopan, Mexico, was intercepted by a Mexican soldier deployed at the team's camp, according to South Korean media reports. The drone was seen on the evening before South Korea's second Group A match at the 2026 World Cup, while players were conducting warm-up exercises. A suspect retrieved the device and left the area before being identified, South Korean press reported. The incident occurred in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, where South Korea is scheduled to face Mexico on Thursday in a Group A fixture. South Korea opened its tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, while host nation Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in its first match. The drone incident echoes a recent spying scandal in English football, in which Southampton was disqualified from the Premier League promotion playoffs over a similar training surveillance case.