Mexican armed forces intercepted an unregistered drone that had approached the South Korean national team’s training facility on the outskirts of Guadalajara, neutralizing the aircraft before it could breach the perimeter.
A sweeping security plan
The operation formed part of ‘Plan Kukulkán,’ a joint effort by federal and local military and police units that mobilizes roughly 100,000 personnel to safeguard stadiums, training bases, transportation corridors, hotels and fan zones throughout the tournament.
Authorities have reported a series of drone incursions in recent days, prompting the activation of early‑warning systems and the deployment of ground teams to enforce no‑fly zones around each venue.
In Canada, the government has imposed a temporary ban on any unauthorized UAVs flying over World Cup stadiums and several training sites in Vancouver and Toronto, a restriction that will remain in effect until July 7.
A legacy of controversy
The crackdown follows the 2024 controversy in which the Canadian women’s national team was found to have used a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session in France, an incident that led to the suspension and eventual dismissal of head coach Bev Priestman by Canada Soccer.
Sanctions imposed by the governing body resulted in a six‑point deduction for Canada in the group stage and sparked a review of oversight protocols across the national programs.