World Cup 2026: Snakes cause concern at training camp

“In Germany, you worry about technique, injuries and your next opponent. Here, you also have to worry about what might be hiding in the grass.”

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich is just one player worried about the presence of venomous snakes at the World Cup.

Players from Germany, Switzerland and Norway have expressed their concerns about the prospect of face-to-face meetings with local wildlife.

At their base camp in Winston-Salem, Kimmich and his teammates reportedly encountered a copperhead, a venomous snake commonly found in North Carolina. Swiss marked a specific area, outsider As a “snake area” in their San Diego camp before the tournament.

Kimmich said: “Yesterday we saw a snake, we were told it was poisonous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital.

“I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s definitely dangerous. I think if you step on a snake like that, it could end badly.

“That’s why we try to keep our distance from the animals here. I have respect for the people here. I don’t think there are so many dangerous animals in Germany.”

Germany, which has won four World Cups, is home to seven species of snakes, two of which are venomous.

“Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if it bites you, it stops being funny very quickly,” Kimmich adds.

“We’re here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly the players are looking at the field before every step they take.”

Norway is also located in North Carolina, with the city of Greensboro’s official website noting that copperheads are “very common” in the area.

The news did not exactly please Norway captain Kristian Thorstvedt.

“I’m not happy to hear that at all,” Thorstvedt said when told about the local wildlife.