World Cup 2026 snake problem: Germany’s training base has an unexpected guest

Germany’s training base during the 2026 FIFA World Cup had an unexpected visitor as captain Joshua Kimmich said a poisonous snake had been spotted in the middle. He was revealed to be a Copper Snake who entered the four-time champions’ training camp in Winston-Salem on Monday.

Germany opened their campaign with a 7-1 win over Curacao and prepare for their clash with Ivory Coast on Saturday 20 June. However, before the match there was panic among the German players and support staff as a snake was spotted.

Speaking to BILD, Kimmich said they were told the snake was poisonous and that a person would have to be hospitalized if bitten.

“Yesterday we saw a snake and we were told that it is poisonous. If it bites you, you have to go to the hospital immediately. I don’t think it is fatal, but it is definitely very dangerous… In Germany, I always felt that we simply don’t have that many dangerous animals,” Joshua Kimmich openly shared his emotions.

SNAKE PROBLEM ON MS

With teams based all over the United States, several had to deal with an unusual problem off the field – venomous snakes.

Switzerland’s training base is at the Jewish Academy in San Diego, where players have been warned of snakes in the area. According to Swiss outlet swissinfo.ch, a large section bordering the training ground has been marked as a no-go zone, highlighted by dark red signage and warning signs: “Beware of snakes.” This means that players are expected not to venture into the area, even when retrieving stray balls.

The concern is not unfounded. The San Diego Museum of Natural History identifies four species of venomous snakes native to the region: the South Pacific rattlesnake, the red diamondback rattlesnake, the southwestern spotted rattlesnake, and the Colorado rattlesnake.

Switzerland is not alone in facing such warnings. Norway, whose team includes stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, is staying at the Grandover Resort & Spa in Greensboro, North Carolina. They too have been informed of snakes in the area and instructed not to disturb them, with local authorities describing snake encounters as “very common”.

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Published on:

17 Jun 2026 0:21 IST