Kickback '26

Kickback Soccer Media
  • 5.0 (13)
  • SOCCER

Kickback '26 is the home of Kickback Soccer Media's World Cup 2026 original shows and series, including our first-of-its-kind First Touch program. First Touch offers new, emerging, and avid fans one place to find your World Cup "starter packs," in-depth insight, unparalleled coverage and American-driven perspectives into the stories shaping the first men’s World Cup on home soil in more than three decades.

  1. 20H AGO

    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 lift the World Cup. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down how the Seleção went from late bloomers (just two World Cup appearances before 2002) to genuine “sharks” on the international stage, with insight from Portuguese-born commentator Eric Krakauer. We trace the roots of the game in Portugal—English merchants, students returning from England, and the rise of the Taça de Portugal and Primeira Liga—then tell Portugal’s modern story through Eusébio, Luís Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose stardom helped transform the country’s global football identity. From there, we relive Portugal’s greatest moment: Euro 2016, a pragmatic run that ended with a 1–0 extra-time win over France—powered by an unlikely hero after Ronaldo went down injured. Looking ahead, we dig into Roberto Martínez’s challenge: managing the transition away from Ronaldo’s shadow as he heads toward what he’s said will be his final World Cup at age 41, and deciding what role he should play. We spotlight PSG midfielder João Neves as a breakout candidate, plus 18-year-old Geovany Quenda as one to watch, and we get into the club-driven intensity of Portuguese football—Benfica, Sporting, and Porto dominating the league and shaping everything from fan identity to the country’s endless “clubism” debates. Portugal land in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and one more TBD opponent—with quarterfinals (and more) firmly in their sights if they get the Ronaldo equation right.

    16 min

  2. 1D AGO

    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 decorated nation in World Cup history—and asks the question every fan is thinking: can Brazil finally win a sixth star in 2026? We rewind through the myth and the magic (including the unforgettable 2002 final in Yokohama) and reckon with the modern reality: a powerhouse that’s too often fallen short, from the heartbreak of 2014’s 7–1 to a run of quarterfinal exits. You’ll hear how Brazil qualified, what’s changed under Carlo Ancelotti, and why this squad, even with their elite talent, still hasn’t consistently looked like a true Brazil team. We also hit the key storylines: Neymar’s uncertain place, the veterans still hanging around, and the young breakout to watch: Estêvão. Plus, a celebration of Ronaldinho as the ultimate symbol of joy, flair, and “Joga Bonito,” and a look at how soccer is woven into daily life across Brazil. Brazil land in Group C (Morocco, Scotland, Haiti). Hype, pressure, expectation—let’s talk about what happens next.

    23 min

  3. 2D AGO

    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 team of dazzling highs and devastating lows, back on the biggest stage after an eight-year absence. We go from the game’s beginnings in Barranquilla and the wild “El Dorado” era, when Colombia briefly hosted the world’s best league, through the joyful, chaotic 1990s: Carlos Valderrama’s iconic hair and passes, René Higuita’s scorpion kick, the rising hopes of a new South American powerhouse—and the tragedy of Andrés Escobar’s own goal and murder, which scarred both the national team and the country’s image during the height of narco-football. Colombia Script From there, we fast-forward to the 2014 World Cup and James Rodríguez’s star turn, the choreographed celebrations that made Colombia everyone’s second team, and the painful 2022 qualifying failure that forced a reset. We break down the rebuild under manager Néstor Lopez, including a 28-game unbeaten streak, a Copa América final against Argentina, and a 2026 qualifying campaign that saw Colombia finish third in the brutal CONMEBOL gauntlet. With Luis Díaz now starring for Bayern Munich, James still pulling strings in a 4-3-1-2, and Yaser Asprilla emerging as the next great creative talent, Colombia arrive in a Group K clash with Uzbekistan, Portugal, and a yet-to-be-determined opponent eyeing another quarterfinal run. Along the way, we spotlight Valderrama as a national hero, the ferocious domestic rivalries that define Colombian football culture, and even why a country with 18 public holidays might just be the perfect home for the world’s most joyful fans.

    15 min

  4. DEC 22

    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 underdogs to the new center of the soccer universe—a fourth-place finish at Qatar 2022, a women’s team in the World Cup knockouts, Olympic bronze, a U-20 world title, and now a run of hosting almost every major tournament on the calendar. We trace Morocco’s football story from the colonial split between French and Spanish zones and Wydad Casablanca’s landmark 1948 title, through their lone AFCON win in 1976 and decades of World Cup frustration, to the history-making 2022 run that saw them knock out Spain and Portugal, finish fourth, and donate their prize money to charities back home. On the road to 2026, we break down Walid Regragui’s evolution from deep-lying counterattacks to more confident, possession-based play, powered by world-class dual nationals like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, Bilal El Khannouss, and rising star Eliesse Ben Seghir. With heavy investment in academies and infrastructure, a fierce club scene led by the Casablanca derby, and a record-breaking winning streak heading into a group with Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland, Morocco arrive not as a one-tournament fairy tale, but as a genuine World Cup contender expecting another deep run.

    15 min

  5. DEC 21

    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 the richest, most political football histories on the planet. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass traces how the game arrived under French occupation in the late 1800s, how European settler clubs gave way to Algerian-run teams that doubled as hubs of cultural and anti-colonial resistance, and how the FLN’s exile team turned football into a weapon for independence. We relive the golden 1980s, the infamous “Disgrace of Gijón” in 1982 that forced FIFA to change its group-stage rules, and the 2014 run to the knockouts where Algeria took eventual champions Germany to extra time. From there we jump to a modern era defined by a massive diaspora talent pool and a new qualifying campaign where Vladimir Petković’s tactically flexible side—built around Riyad Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Aïssa Mandi and rising star Rayan Aït-Nouri—cruised through their group and now aims to turn continental pedigree into World Cup wins. Along the way, we spotlight Rabah Madjer’s backheel in the 1987 European Cup final, USM Alger’s recent continental success, and the way Algerian football continues to mirror the country’s broader struggles, pride, and sense of identity.

    16 min

  6. DEC 20

    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 finally be their time? In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down the story of the Oranje, from Pim Mulier’s first club in the 1870s through the birth of Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV, to the rise of Total Football under Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. We relive the heartbreak of the 1974 and 1978 finals, the near-miss in 2010, the 5–1 demolition of Spain and Tim Krul shootout heroics in 2014, and the fiery “Battle of Lusail” against Argentina in 2022. On the modern side, we look at Virgil van Dijk as the calm, commanding face of the team, supported by stars like Memphis Depay, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo and a new wave of talent including Xavi Simons, Ryan Gravenberch and Jurriën Timber. We unpack Ronald Koeman’s efficient, sometimes “uninspiring” but effective 4-3-3 variations, an undefeated qualifying campaign, and a Group F draw with Japan, Tunisia, and a yet-to-be-determined European side. Plus, we celebrate Cruyff the player, coach, and icon (right down to the Cruyff turn), the sea of orange that takes over every host city, and a country with more bikes than people still chasing the one trophy that’s always just out of reach.

    16 min

  7. DEC 19

    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 it matters most. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass tells the story of the Black Stars—from the game’s arrival with European merchants and the early AFCON glory years, to their late but spectacular World Cup debut in 2006 as the youngest squad at the tournament, beating both Czechia and the United States before falling to Brazil. We relive the heartbreak of 2010 against Uruguay, when Asamoah Gyan—Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and the top African scorer in World Cup history—missed a last-minute penalty that would have made Ghana the first African semifinalist, and how that near-miss still shapes the country’s footballing psyche today.

    11 min

  8. DEC 18

    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 trophy in his hands. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass dives into La Albiceleste: three-time champions, ever-present contenders, and the emotional heartbeat of the sport. We trace how immigrants and British (especially Scottish) workers helped build Argentina’s game in the late 1800s, from the founding of one of the world’s oldest leagues to the birth of La Nuestra—a style defined by skill, flair, and a little viveza criolla street cunning. From there, we walk through Argentina’s World Cup story: the first-ever final in 1930, hosting glory in 1978, Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” in 1986, the heartbreaks of 1990 and 2014, and Messi’s long, winding quest that finally ended with immortality in Qatar 2022. We then fast-forward to the road to 2026, where Lionel Scaloni’s balanced, hard-working side cruised through qualifying and now faces a looming handoff to a new generation. With Julián Álvarez stepping into superstardom, Alejandro Garnacho on the rise, and teenage phenomenon Franco Mastantuono already breaking records at River Plate and Real Madrid, we explore what Argentina’s “post-Messi” era might look like. Along the way, we hit Superclásico lore, cult heroes like Riquelme and El Trinche Carlovich, and the way fútbol, tango, politics, and daily life all blur together in one of the world’s most passionate football cultures.

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Kickback '26 is the home of Kickback Soccer Media's World Cup 2026 original shows and series, including our first-of-its-kind First Touch program. First Touch offers new, emerging, and avid fans one place to find your World Cup "starter packs," in-depth insight, unparalleled coverage and American-driven perspectives into the stories shaping the first men’s World Cup on home soil in more than three decades.

Information

  • Creator
    Kickback Soccer Media
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Kickback Soccer Media
  • Show Website
    Kickback '26