Swiss and Norway teams alerted over snakes near World Cup bases
Warnings raise concerns at team training camps in US
- Switzerland’s World Cup preparations in San Diego have taken an unexpected turn after players were warned about a snake habitat next to their training base.
The Switzerland national football team is facing an unusual challenge during preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after players were warned about the presence of snakes near their training base in the United States.
The Swiss squad arrived in San Diego ahead of its opening World Cup match against Qatar national football team on June 13.
The team is also scheduled to face Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team on June 18 before concluding the group stage against Canada national football team on June 24.
The issue gained attention after the Swiss team shared an image of its training facilities on social media, showing a map that identified a large surrounding area as a “snake zone,” accompanied by warnings urging players to remain cautious while training or moving around the camp.
The warning quickly sparked reactions online, particularly amid reports about the presence of poisonous snake species in areas surrounding the training site.
The situation is not limited to Switzerland alone. The Norway national football team also reportedly received similar warnings after arriving at its training camp in Greensboro.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and his teammates were advised to avoid approaching or provoking snakes due to their prevalence in the area and the potential danger they pose, according to news reports.
Local authorities reportedly stressed that reptiles are commonly found around the camps and urged players and staff not to attempt to catch or interact with them in order to maintain safety throughout the tournament preparations.
