Germany captain Joshua Kimmich arrived at the World Cup’s Winston‑Salem base camp expecting tactical briefings, not reptiles. A copperhead slithered across the training field, prompting the German squad to pause drills and call medical staff. Kimmich warned teammates that a bite requires hospital care, noting the snake’s venom can be serious despite a low death rate for players in practice.

Switzerland’s camp near San Diego marked a section of its training grounds as a “snake area” after staff spotted another copperhead. Norwegian midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt expressed displeasure, saying the wildlife distraction undermines focus ahead of group matches. Both nations share a base in North Carolina, where copperheads are described as “very common” by local officials for the team preparations today.

The snake sightings have forced coaches to adjust warm‑up routines, allocating extra time for perimeter checks and medical briefings. While Germany boasts four World Cup titles, it fields only seven snake species domestically, two of which are venomous, underscoring the novelty of North American wildlife for European squads. Players now train with heightened caution, treating the grass as another opponent.