Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German Men's National Team, is among the players fretting after the reported reptile sighting
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Joshua-Kimmich-copperhead-snake-61726-66517e39f5914d89a85bbffa53df8a6f.jpg "Joshua Kimmich, Cooperhead Snake")
Credit: Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty; Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- German soccer players reportedly spotted a venomous copperhead snake while training for the World Cup in North Carolina
- Germany’s captain, Joshua Kimmich, shared his thoughts on the sighting, stating that players are now cautious during training
- Other teams have also expressed concern over local wildlife amid the FIFA tournament
There's a snake in the grass!
As several international soccer teams train in North Carolina amid the 2026 World Cup, the sighting of a local critter has left players concerned and, according to BBC Sport, "looking at the ground before every step they take."
These are the words of Joshua Kimmich, captain of the German Men's National Team and one of the athletes fretting after a copperhead snake was reportedly spotted at the team's World Cup training headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The German team — which secured a 7-1 victory over Curaçao in its first World Cup game on June 14 — reportedly spotted a copperhead snake as they trained at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium at Wake Forest University. It's "the most common and widespread venomous snake" in the state, per the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Credit: Getty
"We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital," Kimmich said, per BBC Sport. "I don't think you'll die, but it's certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly."
"Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if you're bitten, it stops being funny very quickly," the team captain added of the reptile sighting.
And the German players aren't the only ones surprised by North America's wildlife. According to BBC Sport, members of both Switzerland and Norway's teams have also expressed concerns about coming into contact with potentially dangerous wildlife at their respective bases while training for the FIFA tournament.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Swiss team — which ended its first World Cup match against Qatar in a 1-1 draw on June 13 — has even marked off a designated "snake area" at their home base, the San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego, according to BBC Sport.
Credit: Joe Buvid/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty
Norway captain Kristian Thorstvedt — who helped the team defeat Iraq 4-1 on June 16 — also shared some less-than-savory feelings about the situation, according to the outlet. When informed about the U.S. wildlife sightings, he reportedly said: "I'm not happy at all to hear that."
Kimmich, meanwhile, is worried about the impact player concerns over run-ins with venomous animals will have as the team continues to train for the World Cup, which officially began on June 11.
"In Germany, you worry about tactics, injuries, and your next opponent. Here, you also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass," he said, per BBC Sport. "That's why we're trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren't so many dangerous animals."
"We're here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly players are looking at the ground before every step they take," added the German captain.