Snake trouble at World Cup 2026: Germany training base gets unexpected guest
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said a copperhead snake was spotted at the team's Winston-Salem training base. The incident has unsettled players and underlined an unusual off-field hazard for teams based across the United States.
The German training base during the FIFA World Cup 2026 had an unexpected visitor as captain Joshua Kimmich said that a venomous snake was spotted at the center. It has been revealed that it is a copperhead snake that has entered the four-time champions' training camp in Winston-Salem on Monday.
Germany started their campaign with a 7-1 win over Curacao and are getting ready for their clash against the Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. But before the match, there is panic amongst the German players and the support staff as the snake was spotted.
Kimmich, while talking to BILD, said that they were told that the snake was poisonous and the person will need to be hospitalised if they get bitten.
"Yesterday we saw the snake, and we were told it was poisonous. If it bites you, you have to go to the hospital immediately. I don't think it's deadly, but it's definitely very dangerous... In Germany, I always felt like we just don’t have so many dangerous animals," Joshua Kimmich openly shared his emotions.
SNAKE PROBLEM AT WORLD CUP
Since teams have been based across the United States, several have had to contend with an unusual off-field concern — venomous snakes.
Switzerland's training base is at San Diego's Jewish Academy, where players have been cautioned about snake activity in the surrounding area. According to Swiss outlet swissinfo.ch, a large section bordering the training ground has been designated as a restricted zone, highlighted with dark red markings and warning signs reading: "Beware of snakes." The advisory means players are expected to avoid venturing into the area, even to retrieve stray balls.
The concern is not unfounded. The San Diego Museum of Natural History identifies four venomous snake species native to the region: the Southern Pacific rattlesnake, red diamond rattlesnake, southwestern speckled rattlesnake and the Colorado Desert sidewinder.
Switzerland are not alone in facing such warnings. Norway, whose squad includes stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, are staying at the Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, North Carolina. They too have been advised about the prevalence of snakes in the area and instructed not to disturb them, with local authorities describing snake encounters as "very common."
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The German training base during the FIFA World Cup 2026 had an unexpected visitor as captain Joshua Kimmich said that a venomous snake was spotted at the center. It has been revealed that it is a copperhead snake that has entered the four-time champions' training camp in Winston-Salem on Monday.
Germany started their campaign with a 7-1 win over Curacao and are getting ready for their clash against the Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. But before the match, there is panic amongst the German players and the support staff as the snake was spotted.
Kimmich, while talking to BILD, said that they were told that the snake was poisonous and the person will need to be hospitalised if they get bitten.
"Yesterday we saw the snake, and we were told it was poisonous. If it bites you, you have to go to the hospital immediately. I don't think it's deadly, but it's definitely very dangerous... In Germany, I always felt like we just don’t have so many dangerous animals," Joshua Kimmich openly shared his emotions.
SNAKE PROBLEM AT WORLD CUP
Since teams have been based across the United States, several have had to contend with an unusual off-field concern — venomous snakes.
Switzerland's training base is at San Diego's Jewish Academy, where players have been cautioned about snake activity in the surrounding area. According to Swiss outlet swissinfo.ch, a large section bordering the training ground has been designated as a restricted zone, highlighted with dark red markings and warning signs reading: "Beware of snakes." The advisory means players are expected to avoid venturing into the area, even to retrieve stray balls.
The concern is not unfounded. The San Diego Museum of Natural History identifies four venomous snake species native to the region: the Southern Pacific rattlesnake, red diamond rattlesnake, southwestern speckled rattlesnake and the Colorado Desert sidewinder.
Switzerland are not alone in facing such warnings. Norway, whose squad includes stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, are staying at the Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, North Carolina. They too have been advised about the prevalence of snakes in the area and instructed not to disturb them, with local authorities describing snake encounters as "very common."
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