Kickback '26

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 long-standing members of Scotland’s famed Tartan Army (the good), breakdown how FIFA ticketing continues to make it impossible to afford (or experience) the upcoming World Cup (the bad), to commuting logistics that may potentially stealing the match-day experience from the fans (the ugly).0:43 News3:34 Ticket Changes & Travel Issues For 2026 World Cup9:03 Behind The Scenes Of Tartan Army's Epic Travel Experience Watching Scotland19:33 Bosnia Coming "Home" To St. Louis

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 David and Susannah cover all the action, from the jubilation of Iraq, Sweden, DR Congo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifying, to the heartbreak of Kosovo, Ukraine, Denmark, and Italy falling short. We also hear from Michele Giannone on how he really feels about his beloved Italy missing out—again—as well as from our own Valair Shabilla, recorded live from Monterrey, Mexico, where he witnessed his homeland, Iraq, qualify for the first time in 40 years.2:55 News On Under Fire World Cup Managers5:10 Recap Of World Cup Playoffs15:37 Valair Shabilla Takes Us On The Ground To Iraq vs Bolivia20:30 Esmir Bajraktarevic, Bosnia & Italy's Pain w/Michele Giannone

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 senior tournament. But they come into this World Cup flying as the highest scorer in UEFA. Our host David gets to the genius of this huge turnaround with two key members of the change former Norwegian international Pa-Modou Kah & current young phenom Antonio Nusa. Before that we hit the news with kit releases, controversy between Wales & Bosnia Herzegovina and they talk to Boston Globe reporter Chris Serres about some of the concerns in Massachusetts around World Cup preparations.1:47 Bosnia's Coach Calls Out Welsh Club Coach Steve Cooper3:28 Ben White's England Return4:04 Nike's World Cup Kit Release5:13 Boston Globe's Chris Serres On World Cup Preperations15:12 Norway's Golden Generation w/Antonio Nusa & Pa-Modou Kah25:03 DR Congo 1974 World Cup Moment

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 playoff storylines. They dive into why Italy and Turkey have the most to lose, while Kosovo and Ireland are playing with house money, before revisiting iconic playoff moments like Australia’s 2005 win over Uruguay and Ronaldo vs. Zlatan in 2013. The episode wraps with early, bold predictions on who will make the World Cup.1:40 News AFCON, Finalissima & Neymar's Brazil Time Coming To An end5:19 World Cup Playoff Preview w/Musa Okwonga Both UEFA & Intercontinental28:55 Greatest Stories & Moments In Playoff History51:00 Too Early World Cup Prediction

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 upcoming France vs. Brazil March friendly, Gass and Susannah Fuller look back one of the most iconic matches in World Cup history, the 1998 World Cup final. We close with the story of Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika, one of the greatest players in African football history.1:15 Global Soccer News3:50 Valair Shabilla On Iraqs Travel Concerns & Iran World Cup Play11:55 Reliving 1998 World Cup Final France vs Brazil28:15 Forgotten Legend Egyptian Great Mohamed AboutrikaIf you want to relive the 1998 Final in person. Brazil and France will be going toe to toe at Gillette Stadium on March 26th click here for tickets

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 what Dick Advocaat's absence means for The Blue Wave of Curacao ahead of this summer's World Cup. Next, we discuss what makes the Canadian city of Brampton such a soccer powerhouse with former head of development at famed Sigma FC and current Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. Finally, we wrap up with an often-forgotten Austrian hero who stood up for the Austrian resistance then died under mysterious circumstances.Make sure to subscribe to Jon's newsletter, Getting CONCACAFed here!3:25 Jon Arnold On Curacao Manager Change & Future Of CONCACAF 12:57 Brampton Ontario Soccer Powerhouse w/ Bobby Smyrniotis19:30 Austrian Legend The Mozart Of Football

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 Guardian’s Senior Sports Editor Alexander Abnos breaks down whether a World Cup boycott is truly possible and what it would mean for fans, players, and national teams. Then, we look back at the U.S.’s failed bid to host the 1986 World Cup with veteran journalist Michael Lewis, exploring how that collapse reshaped U.S. Soccer and set the foundation for the modern American game. We close with one of the strangest stories in soccer history, the mystery of South Korea’s “cursed” gold medals.If you want to hear more from Michael Lewis his newest book looking back on 40 years of soccer coverage is available now here.2:38 Alex Abnos (The Guardian) On Potential World Cup Boycott14:32 Story Of The USA's Failed 1986 World Cup Hosting Bid24:30 South Korea's Gold Medal CurseListen to our shows, and subscribe to our newsletter at: https://kickbacksoccer.com/.

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 window signing...Matt Doyle!It's Kickback Soccer Media 2.0, and we can't wait to share this momentous soccer year for American soccer with you!Listen to our shows, subscribe our newsletter on: https://kickbacksoccer.com/Subscribe to TacticsFreeZone: https://tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-end-to-my-days-at-mls-and-my-plan-for-whats-next/

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 with real expectations—and a familiar question hanging over everything: is this finally the tipping point where the sport stops disappearing for four years at a time? In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down the full story of the Red, White, and Blue, with USMNT icon Clint Dempsey weighing in on what a deep run could mean for the country. We trace the surprisingly deep roots of the game in the United States—early leagues, the American Soccer League boom of the 1920s, and the chaos of the Soccer Wars—before jumping into the NASL fever dream, when Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer and the Cosmos made soccer feel like the center of the sports universe. From there, we revisit the moments that built modern U.S. soccer: the legendary 1950 upset over England, the 1994 World Cup that changed fandom forever, and the roller coaster era from 2002’s quarterfinal run to “Go Go USA” in 2010, the 2014 Group of Death, and the 2018 failure that still stings. Then it’s all about now: a host nation with a golden generation in Europe, a new era under Mauricio Pochettino, and a squad trying to rediscover the edge that defined past U.S. teams. We spotlight Diego Luna as the young player to watch—fearless, feisty, and quickly becoming the fan favorite symbol of old-school USMNT grit—and we frame the stakes plainly: in a manageable Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and one more European opponent to be determined, anything less than a quarterfinal run on home soil will feel like a disappointment.

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 La Celeste. The first true giant of the sport, built on garra charrúa, the national mindset of grit, fight, and doing whatever it takes to win. We trace Uruguay’s roots from British influence and the earliest clubs, to the oldest international rivalry outside the UK—the Clásico del Río de la Plata with Argentina—and the era when Uruguay essentially owned global football: Olympic gold in 1924 and 1928, then hosting and winning the first-ever World Cup in 1930. Then we jump to the modern era under Marcelo Bielsa—high press, high chaos, high belief—as Uruguay clinch qualification out of brutal CONMEBOL and head to 2026 with Federico Valverde as the new face of the team and a deep cast that includes Darwin Núñez, José María Giménez, Rodrigo Bentancur, and more. We spotlight a young difference-maker to watch (including Manuel Ugarte), honor forgotten icon José Leandro Andrade, and explain why Uruguay’s domestic passion—Peñarol vs Nacional—still powers a country of just a few million into World Cup relevance every generation.

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 can spark another magical run. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass explores Mexico’s deep football identity, its huge domestic league culture, and the enormous pressure of being a host nation—even if expectations for the current squad are lower than usual. We start at the roots: Cornish miners bringing the game to Real del Monte in the 1800s, the rise of organized leagues, and how the 1970 World Cup ignited the golden age of Liga MX—with massive crowds, playoff drama, and a club landscape that has dominated CONCACAF for decades. Then we hit Mexico’s World Cup history: early struggles, the host-fueled quarterfinal runs of 1970 and 1986, and the brutal modern reality of the “Fifth Game” curse—six straight Round of 16 exits from 1994–2014, followed by the shock group-stage elimination in 2022. On the road to 2026, we break down the constant coaching churn and the return of Javier Aguirre (for a third stint), now alongside Rafa Márquez as the succession plan. We look at the veteran core—Raúl Jiménez, Edson Álvarez, Santiago Giménez, Chucky Lozano—and spotlight teenage phenomenon Gilberto Mora as the young player to know. We also celebrate Mexico’s true superpower: the stage. From Estadio Azteca—one of football’s most legendary, intimidating venues—to the host city energy of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, Mexico will deliver the atmosphere. The big question is whether El Tri can deliver the run.