World Cup 2026: Switzerland faces unexpected threat from venomous snakes in San Diego

World Cup 2026 Today at 02:35

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

The Swiss national team is facing a rather unusual situation. Based in San Diego, California, to prepare for the tournament, the Swiss squad has raised the alarm over the presence of venomous snakes near its training camp.

The news was revealed by the Swiss federation itself via a post on social media. A map detailing the facilities at the San Diego Jewish Academy, chosen as the team's base camp, shows a red-marked area with a clear warning: "Beware of snakes."

According to the San Diego Natural History Museum, four species of venomous rattlesnakes inhabit this part of Southern California. While the Swiss team has not officially reported any direct encounters with these reptiles, the staff has opted to make players and management aware of the potential risks.

An unusual reality for the Swiss

This threat is all the more surprising given that rattlesnakes do not exist in the wild in Switzerland. Players are thus discovering an environment completely unfamiliar to them. Other teams, such as Norway, have also been given safety instructions regarding local wildlife around their training bases.

An extra challenge in what is already a demanding build-up to the world’s biggest football event.