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World Cup
World Cup 2026
Soccer
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2026 World Cup
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Uzbekistan
United States Men's National Team
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Tartan Army
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Colombia

First Touch is Kickback Soccer Media’s home for World Cup 2026 storytelling and modern soccer coverage guiding fans from the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and beyond. From premium podcasts and original series to smart analysis and cultural context, First Touch brings new, emerging, and diehard fans inclusive, American-driven perspectives on the stories shaping the global game, from now, through ... more

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Artwork for Kickback '26

Latest Episodes

On this episode of First Touch Dispatch, Eric Krakauer spins around the sporting globe for the most important World Cup headlines, including the changes to the yellow card accumulation rule, Memo Ochoa chasing history, the "Passport Gate" scandal, FI... more

On this week's episode, host David Gass explores the ambition, growth, and the state of the game through the lens of several teams heading to the 2026 World Cup. This episode opens with news on updated yellow and red card rules for the World Cup, a G... more

This week on First Touch Weekly, host David Gass breaks down the biggest stories shaping the road to the 2026 World Cup—from Estêvão potentially missing the tournament to injury concerns surrounding Lamine Yamal. Gass is then joined by our soccer fri... more

This week host David Gass explores the characters that make a World Cup Special—the journeymen coaches, the big personalities, the cult heroes. To do so, Gass is joined by Eric Krakauer to discuss the winding and crazy coaching career of Carlos Queir... more

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Recent Guests

Eduardo Saracho
Former sporting director of Pumas and Puebla, Liga MX
Liga MX clubs (Pumas, Puebla)
Episode: State Of Mexican Soccer w/Eduardo Saracho - Ep. 11 First Touch Weekly
Vaughn Williams
Director of Athletics, Bentley University
Bentley University
Episode: Elite National Teams Finding Their Base Camps - Ep 10. First Touch Weekly
Raven Jemison
President of Kansas City Current
Kansas City Current
Episode: Elite National Teams Finding Their Base Camps - Ep 10. First Touch Weekly
Ryan Hunn
Part of the Stadio team, Europe-based soccer media
Stadio
Episode: Elite National Teams Finding Their Base Camps - Ep 10. First Touch Weekly
Musa Okwonga
Writer and commentator contributing to First Touch Weekly
Kickback Soccer Media
Episode: World Cup Cult Heroes w/Musa Okwonga & Carlos Queiroz w/Eric Krakauer - Ep 9. First Touch Weekly
Eric Krakauer
Soccer journalist and commentator
Personal appearance on the show
Episode: World Cup Cult Heroes w/Musa Okwonga & Carlos Queiroz w/Eric Krakauer - Ep 9. First Touch Weekly
Hazel Stewart
Co-host of the Tartan Army podcast
Tartan Army
Episode: Tartan Army's USA Adventure & WC Ticket Prices - EP. 8 First Touch Weekly
Gregor Cowan
Key organizer of the Tartan Army trip to the U.S.
Tartan Army
Episode: Tartan Army's USA Adventure & WC Ticket Prices - EP. 8 First Touch Weekly
Valair Shabilla
Iraqi reporter on the ground in Mexico for the Iraq vs Bolivia match
Kickback Soccer Media (guest correspondent)
Episode: WCQ Happiness & Heartbreak From Iraq To Italy - EP. 7 First Touch Weekly

Hosts

Susannah Fuller
Host with Kickback Soccer Media background; associated with First Touch Weekly and World Cup coverage.
David Goss
Co-host with Susannah Fuller; frequent contributor to World Cup capsules and Kickback Soccer Media projects.
David Gass
Host of World Cup Capsules; central figure in Kickback Soccer Media's content slate.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Must listen

    Absolutely love this! It has a little bit of everything for everyone - whether you’re a soccer die hard or just want to have a rough idea of what’s going on with each country in the World Cup, this is a must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave from Nashville
    United States4 months ago
  • Must listen

    What a great way to get ready for the World Cup. This show has the perfect combination of history, culture, and soccer stats to give you a feel for each team.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Agedrightback
    United States4 months ago
  • World Cup

    This is required listening for anyone wanting to follow the World Cup in ‘26

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frank Dolan
    United States4 months ago
  • David Gass is Absolute Class

    Phenomenal content, have been listening to and enjoying each episode. I love the interviews and sound bites stitched in. Pronunciation of the Paraguayan language Guaraní and drink Tereré could use some work, but I can’t fault him too much there ;) Keep it up Gass!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matt Leavitt Jr.
    United States5 months ago
  • Soccer Gold

    These are so good! World Cup fever has hit and this is getting me ready for next summer!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lk198800
    Spain5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show blends culture, history, and stats into a cohesive World Cup prep experience.
Listeners appreciate the deep historical context and clear World Cup focus.
Guests bring expert analysis, making episode takeaways valuable for fans and sponsors.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#126
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#67
Norway/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#214
South Korea/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#218
Norway/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

State Of Mexican Soccer w/Eduardo Saracho - Ep. 11 First Touch Weekly
Q: What is the current state of Mexican soccer domestically and internationally?
Eduardo notes that the Liga MX is stable with new ownership and stronger fan engagement, while the national team remains the most debated topic; the real challenge is balancing player availability with club commitments as Mexico hosts games and prepares for a record World Cup.
First Touch Weekly Ep. 2 - Brampton THE Soccer Powerhouse & Curaçao World Cup Darlings Manager Change
Q: Jon, what does Dick Advocaat stepping down mean for Curacao?
It signals a change in leadership but is not the end of Curacao's World Cup hopes; the team has been well-prepared and can weather the transition with a new manager who brings Dutch football connections, while still leveraging the existing core group.
First Touch Weekly Ep. 1 - 1986 Failed US WC Bid & 2026 World Cup Boycotts
Q: How likely is that to actually happen?
Alex argues that a lot of sacrifices would need to be made for teams to boycott or for FIFA to move the World Cup.
First Touch Weekly Ep. 1 - 1986 Failed US WC Bid & 2026 World Cup Boycotts
Q: How realistic is it that any of the qualified countries decide to boycott the 2026 World Cup?
Alexander Abnos believes it is pretty unrealistic due to past experiences with boycotts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Kickback '26

What is Kickback '26 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A World Cup–driven soccer analysis show with a strong North American lens, blending historical context, diaspora stories, and tactical and administrative angles around teams and qualification campaigns. Episodes frequently feature expert guests and insider perspectives, exploring how culture, infrastructure, and recruitment shape both established powers and emerging nations on the road to World Cup 2026 and beyond. Noteworthy is the mix of long-form storytelling, archival highlights, and rapid-fire updates, all anchored by a set of recurring hosts with deep industry ties in North American soccer media and production. This combination makes it a compelling listen for fans who want both the human stories behind the sport and data-backed insig... more

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How many episodes of Kickback '26 are there?

Kickback '26 launched 5 months ago and published 55 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Kickback '26?

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What guests have appeared on Kickback '26?

Recent guests on Kickback '26 include:

1. Eduardo Saracho
2. Vaughn Williams
3. Raven Jemison
4. Ryan Hunn
5. Musa Okwonga
6. Eric Krakauer
7. Hazel Stewart
8. Gregor Cowan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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