Nineteen of the 22 Formula 1 drivers have a direct rooting interest in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off Thursday in Mexico City, and several are already scrambling to juggle race schedules with match attendance as the expanded 48-team tournament overlaps with four consecutive Grands Prix.

The six-week competition, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States with a final set for July 19, runs concurrently with the Barcelona-Catalunya, Austrian, British and Belgian Grands Prix weekends, according to Formula1.com. Only Charles Leclerc, Valtteri Bottas and current Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli lack a home nation in the draw, after Italy failed to qualify for a tournament it has won four times.

Sergio Perez is among the most eager to attend in person. The Mexican driver is working to fly home between the Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix so he can take his son to see Mexico face South Korea in his hometown of Guadalajara. “I am pushing really hard,” Perez said. “I literally have to come just for the game, and then go back to Europe. But we will make it happen.” He acknowledged Mexico’s squad is a new generation and “not the ideal scenario,” but added: “It’s a World Cup at home, anything can happen.”

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto is also eyeing the calendar for a chance to watch Argentina play in the United States. “Football in Argentina, it’s the number one sport,” Colapinto said. “The passion there is insane. The Argentinians are also very different to the rest of the world in terms of how they show their passion.”

Not every driver can afford the detour. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, despite Brazil being among the tournament favorites, said he will stay with his team. “There are a lot of things happening right now, so at least from my side, I need to shift all my focus,” Bortoleto said. “I will definitely be cheering for Brazil and watching most of the games on the TV or on my phone. But I think it’s difficult to fly to the US to watch a game.”

Max Verstappen, who has Belgian roots through his mother and a connection to Brazil through partner Kelly Piquet, left no doubt about his allegiance. “I support of course Holland,” Verstappen said. “That’s my team and my country. And if there is any kind of rivalry, then let’s see what shirt will be worn on the couch. Mine will be orange.”

Antonelli, the championship leader who follows his local Bologna club, said he will root for Brazil given Italy’s absence. “I do really like Brazil, the way they play the game,” Antonelli said, citing childhood admiration for Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. “I think it’s going to be a cool event, even though Italy is not in it, unfortunately. I’m going to be watching pretty much all the games.”

Leclerc, meanwhile, offered a characteristically candid take from the sidelines. “Sorry to disappoint you, I know literally nothing about football,” the Ferrari driver said. “I’ll have loved Italy to be part of the World Cup. I’ll probably like to see Cristiano Ronaldo win a World Cup before stopping. I’ll just enjoy it, being quite neutral about it.”

Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso enter the tournament with reason for optimism, as Spain competes as reigning European champions and FIFA’s second-ranked side. La Roja face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.

The overlap between the World Cup and the European racing calendar ensures that paddock televisions and driver phones will be doing double duty through mid-July, as the grid balances championship ambitions on track with national pride off it.