France vs England and an Argentine superstition: World Cup atmosphere reaches F1

Kimi Antonelli said it would be a “disaster” for Italy to miss the World Cup, but he still plans to follow the tournament closely. Asked by UOL whether he would support Carlo Ancelotti and, by extension, Brazil, the Formula 1 points leader avoided giving a direct answer and instead praised Brazilian football. He said he has always liked the way Brazil plays and recalled that, as a child, he admired Brazilian players at Barcelona.

Antonelli also noted that he does not remember watching Italy play in a World Cup. Born in August 2006, he was seven years old when Italy last appeared at the tournament, in 2014. Because of that, he said the 2026 World Cup will feel like a major event for him even without the Italian national team involved. Italy has again failed to secure a place in the competition, extending a frustrating absence from the sport’s biggest stage.

Despite his disappointment, Antonelli said he will watch almost every match. He described the World Cup as something “sensational” and said it will still be a great event even if Italy is not participating. He added that the country may have to wait another four years for a chance to return, though he said he was not even sure that would happen.

The remarks came as the 48-team World Cup is being played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. While football takes center stage across North America, Antonelli’s Formula 1 schedule continues in Europe, with races in Spain, Austria, England, Hungary and Belgium.