How European World Cup athletes have trained for US heat as visitors admit: We owe Americans an apology

Europeans — and perhaps particularly, Brits — have “had a go” at Americans on social media over our reliance on ice water and A/C during the summer.Now, we’re watching them learn in real-time how intense the US heat can be at the World Cup.“We owe Americans an apology,” a UK creator posted after landing in Texas for the games.

“The air is thick like soup and and even in the middle of the night it’s 29 degrees [84 degrees Fahrenheit].Right now it’s 35 [95 degrees Fahrenheit] and you can barely breathe the air.

Thank God Americans actually have A/C.”And that’s just people who are here to sit and watch the game.How will athletes playing in the heat handle it?Photos of Norwegian players in North Carolina laying down for respite, absolutely drenched in sweat, have been going viral.

“Nothing makes me feel more patriotic than watching these European World Cup teams struggle to adapt to the American heat,” Barstool’s Jack Mac quipped.“The England World Cup team have just arrived in America and they can’t handle the heat.Neither can the fans,” said a creator who goes by Josh from England, a Brit who now lives in the US.

“This is pre-heat in America.This isn’t even the hottest.”Though it’s true that visitors from countries like Scotland, Germany, England and Norway are biologically accustomed to cooler temps, most of what will dictate their success in the US heat is behavioral, experts say.

That means athletes can adjust with the right habits.But it won’t be easy.Speaking to The Post, experts have broken down what teams need to do in order to compete — and what visitors should know about staying safe in the stands.Americans are simply built different.

According to Douglas Casa, PhD, a professor of kinesiology and director of athletic training education at University of Connecticut, we’ve adapted to the heat after a lifetime of practicing coping strategies.Visitors who live in cooler climates will need to acclimate to kee...