Have you ever ridden in a car from a lesser-known car manufacturer in one of the participating countries during the World Cup finals?

Many men are dedicated car enthusiasts and football fans, and November is a busy month for them: after enjoying the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Macau Grand Prix, they are immediately followed by the quadrennial Qatar World Cup, with football fever sweeping the entire city

The world's top national teams have gathered in Qatar, all with one goal: the World Cup, the highest honor in football and for their nations. This World Cup is also highly anticipated by fans—it's the last World Cup for the star players who have dominated the football world for nearly a decade, making it a true "twilight of the gods." While the football matches and related information are exciting, the World Cup offers many interesting side features that are worth exploring and can even be considered a form of travel

Whether it's Japan, the UK, Germany, France, or the US, everyone is familiar with their football and car culture, and I'm sure we'd rather not say more! This time, we'll take car enthusiasts to see some of the lesser-known car brands from the final week's countries. These are car brands that Hong Kong people don't often come into contact with. How many of them do you recognize?

Australia - Holden

Living in a vast and resource-rich country like Australia, one certainly can't do without a car. Founded in 1856, Holden, the Australian car manufacturer, was the best-selling domestic car brand for over a century. However, in the face of globalization, even a small, isolated country like Australia struggled to compete with global automakers. Since 2017, Holden has ceased producing any Australian-made cars. Even more tragically, in 2020, the Australian car manufacturer announced its withdrawal from the domestic market, a news that left Australians deeply saddened

Spain - SEAT

In the world of football, Spain is a familiar name, but its presence in the automotive industry might be less familiar. While Spain is located in Europe, its vehicle manufacturing technology may not rival that of neighboring automotive giants. However, its automaker SEAT actively expands its reach, partnering with manufacturers in different countries for research and development, and seeking opportunities in overseas markets

Netherlands-DAF

Besides its famous windmills, the Netherlands also manufactures large trucks! DAF is a leading company in the transport vehicle industry. Hong Kong residents are likely familiar with it, and you may have even driven or ridden in one, as there are agents in Hong Kong! DAF is known for its quality, and its driving experience is sure to win the hearts of many truck drivers

Iran-Samand

Iran's scientific and technological research has never lagged behind, whether in military technology or light industry development. Samand means "wild horse" in Persian, and its car factory accounts for a large share of the Iranian automobile market. If you are a movie buff and have watched many award-winning Iranian films in Europe, you should find Samand's models familiar, as they often appear in movie plots—the yellow Iranian taxi is one of Samand's proud creations

Mexico - Mastretta

Besides being famous for its chili peppers, Mexico's sports car manufacturer Mastretta also produces cars with the authentic flavor of "chili peppers"

Independent automaker Mastretta lacks the luxury of European sports cars, but possesses a glamorous and unrestrained North American flair; its logo bears the colors of the Mexican flag, signifying its willingness to share the glory and shame of its motherland. The teardrop-shaped eyeshadow pattern around the headlights of the Mastretta MXT is quite distinctive, and the body is assembled with aluminum alloy materials, giving it a more unique character compared to other similar expensive sports cars

The fascinating culture of football and cars

What makes football so captivating is that the underdog can always triumph over the stronger team, creating a surge of passion and morale

What makes cars so fascinating is that both large and small manufacturers have their own unique characteristics, allowing consumers to choose a model that suits their personalities. Hopefully, the world's many independent car manufacturers can continue to compete with the major automakers, making car culture more vibrant and interesting