World Cup 2026 - 18 sign-ups and 13 countries qualified so far

[zebra]

2026 is a (men's football) World Cup year, so how about a group build covering all the countries that qualify for it?

 

The objective of the GB will be to build things that represent the countries in the tournament - as many different countries as possible, all 48 would be great! With 48 countries to choose from, there's plenty of scope and hopefully we can end up with a pretty diverse GB. Maybe look beyond your own country to somewhere you wouldn't have considered before.

 

Setting qualification criteria for this is tricky - for some genres manufactured in the country can be too broad, for others it's the most natural fit. So I think the one real rule is this: If you think your build meets the objective of representing the country you've chosen and could defend it if it was questioned, go for it. And your friendly hosts (me and @Mjwomack) will give you a fair hearing if you're not sure.

 

A few guidelines to consider (not rules though!) and there will probably be exceptions to this that I haven't thought of:

Aircraft: Operated by or based in the country is probably better than manufactured in the country, particularly for countries that export a lot of aircraft, otherwise it could become a bit of a free for all.

Armour: Probably the same as aircraft, operated in or based in would be better.

Cars, motorbikes etc: The nationality associated with the brand/badge is probably best. An exception to this might be emergency vehicles with markings that are clearly associated with a country. 

Racing cars, motorbikes etc: Depending on circumstances this could be the nationality of the team or brand or it could be the nationality of the driver. I don't think it's the nationality of a circuit they raced at unless you can clearly associate the model with that circuit more than others.

Ships: Should be pretty easy for naval ships, also coast guards, lifeboats etc, it would be the flag they operate under. Commercial ships could be tricky, it might be flag, home port or operator, depending on circumstances.

Sci-fi: I don't think Alderaan or Gallifrey are going to qualify but if you think you can argue for a sci-fi build to be in, good luck! It's pretty well known that Hoth was filmed in Norway and Tatooine was filmed in Tunisia though so it's possible.

 

Countries that have qualified so far:

USA 🇺🇸

Canada 🇨🇦

Mexico 🇲🇽

Japan 🇯🇵

New Zealand 🇳🇿

Argentina 🇦🇷

Iran 🇮🇷

South Korea 🇰🇷

Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

Jordan 🇯🇴

Australia 🇦🇺

Brazil 🇧🇷

Ecuador 🇪🇨

 

What do people think?

 

The sign-up list:

 

1. Zebra

2. @vppelt68

3. @Marlin

4. @Rabbit Leader

5. @Col.

6. @Dennis_C

7. @Mjwomack

8. @ModelingEdmontonian

9. @wimbledon99

10. @Jabba

11. @Toryu

12. @Marklo

13. @PhantomBigStu

14. @RC Boater Bill

15. @DaveJL

16. @Karearea

17. @Black Knight

18. @Richard Humm

[vppelt68]

I support this idea, please sign me in the "GB Where You Will Most Definitely NEVER Get To Build a Finnish Subject"  Forza Italia, btw, per sempre ❤️

[Marlin]

Hey, that's a real cool idea  

Please sign me up.

Have to check which countries are represented and choose one I've not built something from.

/Bosse

[Rabbit Leader]

I’ll be in that Julian, so please sign me up. Be interesting to build a subject from the 1969 Football War, should either El Salvador 🇸🇻 or Honduras 🇭🇳 get up! 
 

Cheers… Dave (who thinks Australia will have to qualify the hard way again!) 

[Col.]

That's an interesting idea Julian. How do we cover the UK should one of the various teams qualify?

[Rabbit Leader]

I also reckon one subject could possibly cover every nation that qualifies…the T-6 Texan / Harvard series of Trainers!.
Can you imagine a GB full of them? 

[Dennis_C]

Would British subjects qualify for this GB? Or is that going to be limited to Scottish warriors or English man-o-war ships?

 

Hmmm... if Scotland qualifies - I think Scottish Aviation products should be for sure permitted. Similar approach to English Electric probably. 

Edited November 15, 2024 by Dennis_C

[zebra]

British subjects are a bit awkward (typical!). I think I’d like this to be more about things in the colours of the country in question, rather than made in the country in question (not least because that becomes a free for all - if Germany, England, France, Russia and Japan qualify then pretty much most modelling subjects would be in). So perhaps for British subjects they’d be in markings of a, say, a unit based in the relevant part of Britain? Eg for an RAF Typhoon you’d use a Coningsby based squadron for England and a Lossiemouth based squadron for Scotland.

14 hours ago, vppelt68 said:

I support this idea, please sign me in the "GB Where You Will Most Definitely NEVER Get To Build a Finnish Subject"  Forza Italia, btw, per sempre ❤️

Don’t lose hope yet, qualification hasn’t started yet!

 

13 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

I also reckon one subject could possibly cover every nation that qualifies…the T-6 Texan / Harvard series of Trainers!.
 

Can you imagine a GB full of them? 

that would be brilliant - maybe this should be a “World Cup of Texans and Harvards” GB!

[Dennis_C]

16 hours ago, zebra said:

So far the list of qualifying countries - which I'll update from time to time as additional countries qualify - is just the three host countries: USA, Canada and Mexico.

As qualification process in Asia is half way through - we know that many nations are already out of this GB including India, Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Also Russia is banned from 2026 WC too. Still given overall participants count at 48 it should be a pretty wide choice of less obvious nations to choose from. 

 

Also the GB dates should probably be April through July between the end of qualification rounds and the final game. 

Edited November 15, 2024 by Dennis_C

[zebra]

51 minutes ago, Dennis_C said:

As qualification process in Asia is half way through - we know that many nations are already out of this GB including India, Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Also Russia is banned from 2026 WC too. Still given overall participants count at 48 it should be a pretty wide choice of less obvious nations to choose from. 

 

Also the GB dates should probably be April through July between the end of qualification rounds and the final game. 

I like your thinking on the dates, it should end on the day of the final

[Dennis_C]

8 hours ago, zebra said:

I like your thinking on the dates, it should end on the day of the final

Qualification end on March 31st and final match is on July 19th. So just right for the GB. 

Please add me in. Should be fun build. And I have a Texan kit

Edited November 16, 2024 by Dennis_C

[Dennis_C]

Just looked through the qualification calendar. Seems at the time of 2026 bunfight end (November 18th, 2025) we will know majority of participants except for four open slots for UEFA playoff winners and two winners of intercontinental playoffs.

Edited November 16, 2024 by Dennis_C

[zebra]

Thanks everyone, I'd better start a list

[Dennis_C]

7 hours ago, zebra said:

Thanks everyone, I'd better start a list

I'd start building a stock of African air forces markings!

[Mjwomack]

Go Gibraltar ( or San Marino- they're ripping up trees at the moment). I'll give it a go, not idea about what or where though but definitely a pure underdog.  South Africa would be fun.

[Dennis_C]

18 minutes ago, Mjwomack said:

or San Marino- they're ripping up trees at the moment

There is a handful of private jets (including even A330) with San Marino registration

And for Gibraltar it should be a diorama with EasyJet airplane taking off above Victoria football field with the runway/Chirchill Avenue crossroads at the background. 

Edited November 19, 2024 by Dennis_C

[zebra]

14 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

Go Gibraltar ( or San Marino- they're ripping up trees at the moment). I'll give it a go, not idea about what or where though but definitely a pure underdog.  South Africa would be fun.

You're on the list

 

14 hours ago, Dennis_C said:

There is a handful of private jets (including even A330) with San Marino registration

And for Gibraltar it should be a diorama with EasyJet airplane taking off above Victoria football field with the runway/Chirchill Avenue crossroads at the background. 

I'm not sure it's going to be worth spending too much time planning a build for Gibraltar or San Marino in this GB!

[Dennis_C]

1 hour ago, zebra said:

I'm not sure it's going to be worth spending too much time planning a build for Gibraltar or San Marino in this GB!

Agree. But I'm sure 48 nations means we will see some unusual countries from modeller's perspective

[zebra]

1 hour ago, Dennis_C said:

48 nations means we will see some unusual countries

agreed - but I still wouldn't put money on Gibraltar or San Marino being among them!

[Dennis_C]

10 minutes ago, zebra said:

agreed - but I still wouldn't put money on Gibraltar or San Marino being among them!

I hope I would be able to enter this GB with something Azzurri 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Dennis_C

[Mjwomack]

23 minutes ago, zebra said:

agreed - but I still wouldn't put money on Gibraltar or San Marino being among them!

Oh crap

[zebra]

3 hours ago, Dennis_C said:

I hope I would be able to enter this GB with something Azzurri 

Probably on safer ground with that choice!

[ModelingEdmontonian]

Cool idea. Sign me up

[wimbledon99]

Is this just military or would a Ducati road bike, as an example, qualify as an 'Italy' build?

[zebra]

On 2/7/2025 at 11:27 PM, wimbledon99 said:

Is this just military or would a Ducati road bike, as an example, qualify as an 'Italy' build?

Not just military - no GB I suggest would ever be just military! - but it's 'based in' or 'operated in' the country in question, rather than built in. As long as you give it an Italian registration it would qualify.