Snake sighting surprises Germany at World Cup training site

Germany’s World Cup squad got an unexpected visitor at its training complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after a venomous snake was spotted near the team’s practice area. The episode came as Julian Nagelsmann’s side continued preparations for its next match against Ivory Coast, following a dominant 7-1 opening win over Curaçao.

Captain Joshua Kimmich described the encounter as a real safety concern. He said the team saw “a venomous snake” the day before and noted that anyone bitten should go to the hospital. “I don’t think it would lead to death, but it is definitely dangerous,” he said, adding that stepping on such a snake could “end badly.”

Kimmich said the players are trying to keep their distance from the local wildlife, and joked that “in Germany there are fewer dangerous animals.” The article also recalled that Switzerland recently warned its World Cup players in advance that the area near their San Diego training base was known to have snakes.

The report appeared on June 16, 2026, under the headline “The snake is coming: surprise at Germany’s camp.”