Shows / First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch is the American home for the global game, exploring not just what happened, but why it matters. From iconic clubs and legendary rivalries to the cultures, communities, and surprising stories that shape the game, we bring the world's game into sharper focus. We're glad you're here.
Episodes
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 World Cup Daily Show: USA vs Australia, Mexico Clinches Knockout Spot & Canada's Historic Win
It’s all about Concacaf at the 2026 FIFA World Cup today. David Gass, Michele Giannone and Matt Doyle break down Mexico securing a spot in the knockout round…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 World Cup Daily Show: England Impress, Portugal Stumble & Mexico Looks Ahead
Matchday 1 is complete, and Michele Giannone and Matt Doyle play a round of Buy or Sell on the biggest teams, players and storylines from the 2026 FIFA World…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch 26' World Cup Daily Show: Haaland, Mbappe, Messi Goals Galore, England and Croatia Face Off | World Cup Daily Show
Day 6 dazzled at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the stars took center stage. Susannah Fuller, David Gass and Matt Doyle break down Kylian Mbappé's record-breaking…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 World Cup Daily Show: Iranian World Cup Opener, Messi & Mbappe Begin & More
Cape Verde delivers the shock of the 2026 World Cup by taking points off Spain, while Belgium and Egypt share the spoils and Saudi Arabia frustrates Uruguay…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 World Cup Daily Show: Tunisia Fires Coach, Japan-Netherlands Thriller & England Preview
Day 5 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered more drama as Tunisia fired its coach, Japan and the Netherlands played one of the matches of the tournament and…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show: World Cup Fever Builds
Day 4 of the World Cup here we go. Susannah Fuller, David Gass and Matt Doyle break down Qatar's dramatic draw with Switzerland, Brazil and Morocco's…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show: USMNT's Statement Win, Brazil-Morocco Showdown
Susannah Fuller, David Gass and Michele Giannone break down the USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup, discuss Canada's first-ever World Cup point…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show: USA & Canada Kick Off
Susannah Fuller, Matt Doyle and David Gass get you ready for the USA's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay with Doyle's latest USMNT…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show Opening Day
The day has finally arrived and Susannah Fuller, Matt Doyle and David Gass give you all their fun soccer picks and predictions heading into the 2026 World Cup…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Dispatch Presented by Soccer.com | Ep. 6
On this episode of First Touch Dispatch, we give you all the latest news, from the injuries to key players, NYC watch parties, and a closer look at the legacy…
- First Touch | World Soccer
2026 World Cup Golden Boot Draft presented by Soccer.com
David Gass, Matt Doyle, Susannah Fuller and Tom Bogert go live from Soccer House in Chicago for a World Cup Golden Boot Draft, building their teams and…
- First Touch | World Soccer
World Cup Storylines We Can't Wait to Watch - Ep. 16 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
David Gass is joined by Ryan Hunn and Musa Okwonga from Stadio to discuss what has them most excited as the World Cup approaches. The crew shares the players…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Dispatch Presented by Soccer.com | Ep. 5
On this episode of First Touch Dispatch we give the latest updates on injuries forcing players to withdraw from the tournament, a record breaking counterfeit…
- First Touch | World Soccer
World Cup Expectations, Rosters and Favorites - Ep. 15 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
Susannah Fuller and David Gass break down the expanded World Cup format, the pressure facing some of the tournament favorites, and the teams generating the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Dispatch Presented by Soccer.com | Ep. 4
On this week's edition of First Touch Dispatch, we dive into the latest news surrounding the World Cup. Iran has officially moved their basecamp to Mexico…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina returns to the World Cup with one of international soccer’s most emotional national team stories. We explore the country’s complex…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Sweden
Sweden returns to the World Cup with a history bigger than many realize and a new generation trying to add to it. We break down the Blue and Yellow’s…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Left Off the Roster - Ep. 14 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
World Cup roster season is here, bringing dream call-ups and heartbreaking omissions for players around the globe. Susannah Fuller discusses some of the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - DR Congo
Susannah Fuller is joined by Stadio’s Musa Okwonga for a conversation about DR Congo’s return to the World Cup after more than 50 years away. Together, they…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Dispatch Presented by Soccer.com | Ep. 3
On this episode of First Touch Dispatch, we dive into roster announcements, players getting political and a deep look into the mass amount of injuries heading…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Colombia, James Rodríguez & World Cup Passion - Ep. 13 First Touch Weekly Presented by Soccer.com
David Gass explores Colombia’s World Cup identity, the legacy of James Rodríguez, and why Los Cafeteros continue to inspire such passion ahead of the 2026…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Dispatch | Ep. 2
On this episode of First Touch Dispatch we dive into the injuries plaguing two CONCACAF Nations, the state of Dual nationals and an MLS international star…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Iraq
Iraq is headed back to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years after one of the longest and most dramatic qualification journeys in the world. Valair…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Czechia
Czechia is back at the World Cup for the first time in 20 years after surviving two dramatic penalty shootouts in qualifying. Host David Gass explores the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch '26 - Turkey
Turkey is back at the World Cup for the first time since its legendary 2002 run, and a new golden generation is raising expectations once again. Host David…
- First Touch | World Soccer
The 2014 World Cup Went Viral - Ep. 12 First Touch Weekly
This week, host David Gass breaks down the latest news with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon before talking with Michael McColl, managing editor of AFTN (Away…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Debut Of First Touch Dispatch News Show Hosted By Eric Krakauer | Ep. 1
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…
- First Touch | World Soccer
State Of Mexican Soccer w/Eduardo Saracho - Ep. 11 First Touch Weekly
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…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Elite National Teams Finding Their Base Camps - Ep 10. First Touch Weekly
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…
- First Touch | World Soccer
World Cup Cult Heroes w/Musa Okwonga & Carlos Queiroz w/Eric Krakauer - Ep 9. First Touch Weekly
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…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Tartan Army's USA Adventure & WC Ticket Prices - EP. 8 First Touch Weekly
Let’s hear it for the fans—or not. Host David Gass breaks down the good, bad, and ugly of the World Cup 2026 fan experience as we meet Hazel and Gregor, two…
- First Touch | World Soccer
WCQ Happiness & Heartbreak From Iraq To Italy - EP. 7 First Touch Weekly
We have a World Cup. With the completion of the UEFA and intercontinental playoffs, all 48 nations are now confirmed—the countdown is officially on. Hosts…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Norway’s Road To This Golden Generation w/Antonio Nusa & Pa-Modou Kah - Ep 6. First Touch Weekly
We move ever closer to the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup and the hottest name on everyone’s lips is Norway. It has been 26 years since Norway has made any…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Musa Okwonga on Pressure & Purpose In World Cup Playoffs Preview - First Touch Weekly Ep. 4
Host David Gass is joined by soccer friend Musa Okwonga—co-host of Stadio, an exciting new partner of Kickback Soccer Media—to break down the biggest World Cup…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Weekly Ep. 3- 1998 Final Brazil vs France & Iraq Intercon Travel Challenges
Host David Gass breaks down Iraq’s crucial World Cup playoff match, and why it could be in jeopardy, joined by journalist Valair Shabilla. Then, ahead of the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch Weekly Ep. 2 - Brampton THE Soccer Powerhouse & Curaçao World Cup Darlings Manager Change
Host Susannah Fuller is back for Episode 2 of the first 2026 World Cup 2026 focused podcast. First she is joined by journalist Jon Arnold as he breaks down…
First Touch | World SoccerFirst Touch Weekly Ep. 1 - 1986 Failed US WC Bid & 2026 World Cup Boycotts
Susannah Fuller hosts the premiere episode of First Touch Weekly as dive into the biggest questions surrounding the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The…
- First Touch | World Soccer
Kickback Soccer Media Emergency Podcast 2.0
We're entering a new era at Kickback Soccer Media. David Gass and Susannah Fuller sit down to talk about two incredible new shows, and to meet our HUGE winter…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - USA
2026 could be the biggest year in the history of American soccer. As co-hosts of the largest World Cup ever, the U.S. men’s national team enters the tournament…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Uruguay
There are plenty of countries with rich soccer history, but you don’t get more “original power” than Uruguay. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass dives into…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Mexico
Mexico has been the backdrop for some of the World Cup’s most iconic moments—and in 2026, El Tri host the tournament for a record third time, hoping home soil…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - South Africa, Featuring: Kiyan Singh & Pitchinvaders
There is so much to love about South Africa’s national team—Bafana Bafana—from the energy on the pitch to the color and spirit in the stands. In this World Cup…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Switzerland
In the land of cheese, chocolate, and army knives, soccer is king—and Switzerland has deeper roots in the sport than most people realize. In this World Cup…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Norway
The land of the Vikings is back on the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998—and Norway arrive as one of the tournament’s must-watch darlings, led by…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Portugal Featuring Eric Kraukaer
A country of just 10 million people, Portugal has produced three Ballon d’Or winners—and in 2026 they might be the best bet to become the next new nation to…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Brazil
Brazil. Five World Cups. One bright yellow jersey that means everything. In this World Cup Capsules episode, David Gass dives into The Seleção—the most…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Colombia
No country rides the emotional roller coaster of the World Cup quite like Colombia. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass tells the story of Los Cafeteros—a…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Morocco
There is no national team program hotter than Morocco right now. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass dives into how the Atlas Lions went from perennial…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Algeria Featuring Dean Ammi
Algeria might be best known to casual U.S. fans as the team on the wrong end of Landon Donovan’s “Go Go USA” moment in 2010—but the Fennec Foxes have one of…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Netherlands
The Dutch have perfected and even revolutionized the game—yet somehow, the Netherlands are still the greatest nation never to win a World Cup. Will 2026…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Ghana
Ghana is one of the World Cup’s true cult favorites: bright colors in the stands, big moments on the pitch, and a history of punching above their weight when…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Argentina featuring Diego Valeri
When you close your eyes and picture the World Cup, chances are you see Argentina—the blue and white shirts, Maradona’s bouncing curls, Messi’s smile with the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Scotland
In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass celebrates the return of a nation that helped invent modern football, exported the passing game around the globe, and…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Australia featuring CB Miloš Degenek
Australian football has always been defined by a “never say die” mentality—and the 2026 Socceroos will need every bit of it. In this World Cup Capsule, David…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Croatia
Small but mighty, Croatia are the ultimate World Cup overachievers. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass tells the story of a national team less than three…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Belgium
Belgium’s golden generation has come and gone, but the Red Devils still go as Kevin De Bruyne goes. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass looks at how a…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - England
Is Football Coming Home? For England, every major tournament starts with that exact question. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass digs into the story of the…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Germany
For generations, the World Cup script was simple: 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes and, somehow, Germany end up in the semifinal. In this World Cup…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - South Korea
South Korea doesn’t just show up at World Cups. They live there. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass looks at the Taeguk Warriors’ 11th straight appearance…
- First Touch | World Soccer
First Touch ’26 - Jordan - Featuring Jamie Siaj
The World Cup has a new debutant: Jordan’s Al-Nashama, “the chivalrous ones,” finally stepping onto the biggest stage. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass…