First Touch '26
November 26, 2025 — Newsletter #14
There will be no Friday edition of the Kickback Minutes this week due to the holiday, so this special thanksgiving First Touch ‘26 Newsletter will guest star some features on soccer in America!
Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week:
What could have been. John O’Brien, 2002 U.S. Defensive Midfielder, and one of the most talented to ever play for the USMNT.
Headlines From the World Cup :
We’re just over a week away from the World Cup Draw in D.C., hosted at the Kennedy Center. 42 of the 48 nations have now qualified, with the FIFA and UEFA playoff brackets confirmed for the remaining six spots.
FIFA has announced the four pots for the World Cup draw, including the “seeded” teams that will accompany the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in pot one. The U.S.’s seeding means they will avoid favorites such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil, France, and England, and the expanded field means almost any draw is likely to see the U.S. favored to advance.
One team to watch out for? Norway is designated to pot three but featured as impressive a qualification run as any nation in the world.
The draw itself, however, is rife with controversy. An inquiry has been started by a Democratic senator in to the rent free arrangement provided FIFA for the draw, and the associated cancellations to open the date.
Similar questions abound regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s trip to the White House this week. Following Ronaldo’s participation along with FIFA President Infantino in a diplomatic visit by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo’s three match ban for violent conduct saw his final two matches of his suspension delayed until after the World Cup, allowing him to avoid missing any matches.
Things We're Excited About:
The generational handoff! This is assuredly Lionel Messi’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cups, and they’re no longer the best players in the World.
However, they remain soccer’s biggest stars, and some of the world’s elite like Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland are about to make their World Cup debuts.
Much of the chatter next summer is sure to be about whether Kylian Mbappe fully seizes the mantle as the global icon of the sport, or whether Yamal, Haaland, or a surprise name lays a claim to the title.
Newsletter Halftime: Let's Do Some World Cup Trivia!
The Tale of the Lucky Urinator!
Argentina’s keeper in 1990, Sergio Goycochea, won two penalty kick shootouts to lead the host nation to a final appearance.
The kicks themselves are less memorable than what he did prior. In both matches, Goycochea summoned his teammates to encircle him so he could pee on the pitch before the shootout.
The first time, in the quarterfinals, were supposedly out of necessity. The second time? Well it worked once, why wouldn’t you do it again?
If only they’d forced kicks in the final, perhaps Goycochea could have rode his lucky ritual all the way to a World Cup title!
Headlines From the U.S.:
Gotham FC have won the NWSL Championship for the second time in three years! A late season stumble saw the New York/New Jersey side stumble late in the season, but resolute defending and the attacking star power of Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw saw them defeat the 1,2, and 4 seeds.
A typically brilliant goal from Rose Lavelle was the difference in the match, and earned the USWNT star finals MVP. While Gotham’s vision of a Galacticos-style roster hasn’t panned out, Lavelle has proven to be the difference maker promised when healthy.
The offseason is likely to be dramatic for the Spirit, who potentially face losing star Trinity Rodman to Europe. With owner Michelle Kang’s incomparable resources and commitment, however, one would expect the Spirit to go big this offseason in chase of a championship.
MLS’s playoffs picked back up after the international break, with a semi-final slate set of San Diego FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, and Inter Miami vs. New York City FC.
Highlights from the quarterfinals included an instant classic in Vancouver, where Son Heung-min scored a brace, including a stoppage time free kick, to send the match to extra time…only for a 9-man Whitecaps side to scrape by to penalties, and win from spot kicks.
Elsewhere, the focus is on Inter Miami, with Messi in his best form of his MLS career and contributing a goal and three assists toward their 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati.
The coaching carousel took a surprising spin in Columbus, where the highly touted Wilfried Nancy has been poached by Celtic FC for their opening. The Crew now join LAFC as two of the most successful clubs of the decade in MLS in the search for a new manager.
Finally, another trophy was handed out this weekend as Pittsburgh Riverhounds defeated FC Tulsa to win the USL Championship!
This is the first title for the Riverhounds, who have become renowned for their riverside stadium and physical defending. It was that defensive prowess that culminated in their title, not giving up a single goal over four playoff matches, despite needing to win three of them on penalty kicks.
FC Tulsa, despite the sting of their loss, will be elated with a best-ever season concluding in an attendance record and a newly engaged fanbase. While players like their star striker Taylor Calheira are likely to be poached, the “Scissortails” have found renewed relevance over a decade in.
Level Up:
From Augsburg, Germany comes one of the USMNT’s most heralded prospects, 18-year-old center back Noahkai Banks.
Banks, a feature across U.S. youth national teams, is yet to feature for the U.S. Men’s National Team despite a camp callup. The young German American, however, does feature at a position of need and is breaking out in the Bundesliga just in time.
With six consecutive starts, Banks has seemingly earned a starting position for FC Augsburg and solidified his reputation as one of the top center back prospects in the world. A technically and athletically gifted player, Banks excels with the ball at his feet and in 1v1 duals. With the USMNT seemingly in search of center backs to partner or back up Chris Richards and Tim Ream, Banks is a prime candidate for a late push for a World Cup spot and a star turn in 2026.
Allocate your points wisely, Noahkai!
Big News Coming from Kickback Soccer Media!
We’re growing at Kickback Soccer Media, and have our biggest announcement since our launch coming next week! Make sure to follow First Touch on Bluesky (@FirstTouch) and IG (@FirstTouchKSM) for the update!