Countries in the first group of the World Cup have very traditional car manufacturing facilities, with two of them having local brands
The 2026 Football World Cup will feature 48 participating countries, divided into 12 groups of four. It is the edition with the largest number of competitors and one of the most varied. This is reflected in the automotive market of each location, we list here the best-selling cars of each one.
Let’s start with group A, composed of Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic. Two of these countries have local brands and all have installed industries.
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Mexico has a large industrial park, as it serves all of Latin America, the USA and also exports to other continents. Nissan is the strongest brand there and the best-selling car was the Versa compact sedan.
The Versa took the place of the Nissan Tsuru, the name of the 1992 Sentra that was produced there until 2017, as a darling of taxi drivers. The reliable 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine and good interior space make it a jack of all trades in Mexico.
The Toyota Hilux is a global phenomenon and we will see the model a lot in this series of articles. It is produced in South Africa and also has the rank of best-selling car.
Toyota has been present in South Africa since 1961 and has been producing cars there since 1962. Its range is very diverse, with some compacts derived from Suzuki, the traditional line we have here, sports cars, vans, jeeps, pickups and even a bus.
Hyundai is one of the largest companies in South Korea, so the best-selling car in the country is theirs, correct? More or less. In 2025 the most licensed model was the Kia Sorento SUV, but the brand belongs to the Hyundai group.
The South Korean market is dominated by Hyundai and Kia, the foreign brands that do best are the luxury ones. But in recent years a Chinese invasion led by BYD has been taking place, but far from bothering the leaders.
Škoda is a brand from the Czech Republic that has belonged to the Volkswagen group since 1991 and leads local sales. The most licensed in the country is the Octavia medium sedan, derived from the Golf and with the size of the Jetta.
Škoda’s positioning in Europe is below Volkswagen, as an entry-level brand and focused on cost/benefit. The cars share mechanics and platforms with the headquarters, but the designs are their own and more conservative. The Octavia even has an RS version with the mechanics of the Jetta GLI.
