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Artwork for First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast

First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast

Kickback Soccer Media
World Cup
World Cup 2026
Soccer
Football
Morocco
France
2026 World Cup
United States Men's National Team
FIFA
Colombia
Scotland
Brazil
Uzbekistan
AFC Asian Cup
Major League Soccer
Tartan Army
Asian Cup
African Cup Of Nations
Olympics
Croatia

First Touch is the 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 World Cup 2026, and ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes86Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsSoccerFootball

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast

Latest Episodes

Lionel Messi made history for Argentina, Algeria kept its World Cup hopes alive and France booked its place in the knockout rounds on Day 12 of the tournament. David Gass, Jordan Angeli and Matt Doyle break down all the action before turning their at... more

Spain finally found their scoring touch against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde continued their stunning World Cup run, and Belgium stumbled again as the drama ramped up on Day 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. David Gass, Jordan Angeli, and Michele Giannone b... more

David Gass and Michele Giannone are back talking about all the action from Day 10, including a rout by the Netherlands against Sweden, Germany punching its ticket to the next round against Ivory Coast and a historic scoreless draw between Curaçao and... more

The United States is through to the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup! David Gass and Michele Giannone are back to discuss Alex Freeman’s breakout performance and look ahead to the USA’s last group game and beyond. Plus, Paraguay earns a dra... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Adam Schefter
Prominent sports journalist introduced as a guest by the hosts
ESPN/Media
Episode: 2026 World Cup Golden Boot Draft presented by Soccer.com
Greg Vanney
Manager of the LA Galaxy; former USMNT provisional squad member
LA Galaxy/US Soccer
Episode: Left Off the Roster - Ep. 14 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
David Gass
Soccer analyst and colleague referenced by host
Episode: Left Off the Roster - Ep. 14 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
Carl Worswick
Journalist based in Bogota who has covered the Colombian national team for 15+ years
Bogotá-based journalist
Episode: Colombia, James Rodríguez & World Cup Passion - Ep. 13 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
Andy Deossa
Colombian-American soccer reporter and fan leader
Independent journalist and commentator
Episode: Colombia, James Rodríguez & World Cup Passion - Ep. 13 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
Michael McColl
Managing editor of AFTN, covers Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver soccer
AFTN
Episode: The 2014 World Cup Went Viral - Ep. 12 First Touch Weekly
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

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

4.9 out of 5 stars from 32 ratings
  • Weird background music, confusion about episodes, and AI feeling scripts

    There are three main problems I have with first touch:

    1. What’s with the background music during segments? It’s like listening to a podcast while on hold with a mid size bank.

    2. To steal from Ted Lasso, “How many podcasts are in this podcast?” There’s the weekly, the dispatch, and the country preview? But they all of their own number…or not.

    3. Finally, I could be wrong here, but the country review scripts feel AI generated. But maybe I’m just being overly critical.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CollinSolberg
    United States24 days ago
  • 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 States6 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 States6 months ago
  • World Cup

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frank Dolan
    United States6 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 States6 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
#45
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#120
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#181
Italy/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#21
Argentina/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#45
Ukraine/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#48
Norway/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The 2014 World Cup Went Viral - Ep. 12 First Touch Weekly
Q: This is sounding a bit like the Save the Crew movement. Do you see any similarities there, and could there be a similar outcome?
The discussion suggests there are parallels in how ownership and location debates can mobilize fan bases, but outcomes depend on viable buyers who will keep teams in their current communities; the Vancouver Whitecaps situation mirrors broader tensions between expansion-market ambitions and preserving traditional home bases.
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 First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast

What is First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast 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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Which podcasts are similar to First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast:

1. Soccerwise
2. Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ...
3. Kickback Committee
4. The Cooligans
5. The Road to World Cup 26 Podcast

How many episodes of First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast are there?

First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast launched 7 months ago and published 86 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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What guests have appeared on First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast?

Recent guests on First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast include:

1. Adam Schefter
2. Greg Vanney
3. David Gass
4. Carl Worswick
5. Andy Deossa
6. Michael McColl
7. Eduardo Saracho
8. Vaughn Williams

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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