HOUSTON – Houston is no stranger to scorching summers, but for thousands of international visitors in town for the FIFA World Cup, the city’s blistering heat and humidity are a culture shock unlike anything they have experienced before.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel spoke with fans from around the world at FIFA Fan Fest, where mist stations, cooling areas and hydration stations are helping visitors survive temperatures that have left many speechless.
Gustav Sjöholm and his friends traveled from Sweden to watch their national team play Saturday. When asked what he thought of the Texas heat, his answer was quick.
“It’s amazing, it’s very hot,” Sjöholm said.
The group left behind temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius, about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a difference of roughly 40 degrees compared to Houston’s triple-digit heat this week.
“It’s a bit different from the 10 degrees Celsius we have at home,” Sjöholm said with a smile.
The Swedes made their way to Fan Fest with one mission in mind.
“Just sweating, but we’re searching for some water and maybe some beers,” he said.
Fans from across the Atlantic and across the country shared the same experience. One fan from England laughed off the conditions while embracing the atmosphere.
“I’m used to English weather, God bless. It is so hot, so hot, but I love it. I love the atmosphere. I love everything about Houston,” the fan said.
A visitor from Denver said Houston’s combination of heat and humidity was something entirely new.
“The heat and the humidity is very different up in Denver. We have hotness, but it’s like I don’t feel it, it doesn’t rub off on me,” the Denver fan said.
The National Weather Service says triple-digit temperatures are expected throughout the week.
For fans like Sjöholm, the five mist stations at Fan Fest have been a lifesaver.
“We saw this and we went to it straight away,” he said.
Fan Fest also offers onsite cooling stations, hydration stations stocked with water and sports drinks, shade structures and air-conditioned spaces, giving visitors multiple ways to escape the heat while taking in the World Cup experience.
For these fans, every drop of sweat is worth it.