01 Apr 2026

First Touch '26

Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week

Luca Toni, from a better era of Italian soccer.

Headlines:

It was the biggest week left before the World Cup arrives in a few short months, as the final six nations stamped their ticket to the World Cup this summer. Here’s the skinny:

You’ve assuredly heard it by now…Italy has missed their third consecutive World Cup. An early Bostoni red card on a DOGSO challenge against Bosnia & Herzegovina forced Italy to defend a 1-0 lead a man down. An equalizer led to another thirty minutes, and penalties.
The Italians succumbed from the spot, with Wisconsin raised Esmir Bajratarevic sending the Italians home. Bosnia qualified for their second World Cup ever while Italy is left with an entire generation of players never to qualify for the World Cup.
Another thriller between Czechia and Denmark saw the long-time World Cup stalwarts, Czechia, return to their first World Cup since 2006. Denmark, meanwhile, is assuredly second only to Italy in terms of quality for a team missing this World Cup.
For USMNT fans, the big news was Turkiye’s win over Kosovo. Turkiye immediately vaults into a potential favorite position in the U.S.’s group, Group D. Featuring some of the most talented young players in the world, the U.S. will have their hands full in their final Group Stage match.
One of the World Cup’s most important storylines will likely be the qualification of Iraq, who will feature for only the second time ever. Having to be privately flown out of Iraq due to the conflict in the Middle East, their participation in the FIFA Playoffs was in doubt. Now, they’ll represent a new era for their nation at the World Cup.
Elsewhere, Sweden returns to the World Cup under new head coach Graham Potter. A late winner from Viktor Gyokeres sent the home side through in a thrilling 3-2 win over Poland.
Finally, the Democratic Republic of Congo also qualified for only the second time ever, previously competing as Zaire. Their 1974 appearance is much maligned, though the rough treatment of their players is often overlooked in its telling. They defeated Jamaica 1-0, and looked the part of a tough out at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the U.S. competed in two friendlies in Atlanta, and it turned out not so great!

A 5-2 loss to Belgium followed a positive first half that ended 1-1. The U.S. failed to adapt to changes in the Belgian press and long diagonals, let Doku get 1v1 in dangerous areas, and quickly let in three goals after the break.
Portugal got out to their lead a little quicker, and finished atop the U.S. 2-0. Pulisic started out the match as a False 9, the U.S. started positively and then faded over time, looking largely toothless in the final third.

There are going to be a lot of hot takes on this window from the talking heads, so we don’t need to pile on. The scorelines probably reflect worse on the performances than they were (but so does giving up a lot of goals on the edge of the 18), and whether you agree or not, Mauricio Pochettino clearly decided on using these friendlies for experimentation.

Either way, the confidence of the fanbase that was built up through successes in the fall is tattered.

Tickets:

One more window! And it’s open right now!

It’s a first come, first serve final window from FIFA. That means you can go right now to the FIFA website, and if you see a ticket available (after you get through the queue) you can purchase it on the spot.

Queue times today are lengthy, so hop in now if you’re planning on buying a ticket.

One of the World Cup’s most controversial moments goes back to the 1966 World Cup Final extra-time winner from England’s Geoff Hurst against West Germany.

The shot from Hurst hit the crossbar and bounced down, with a Soviet linesman declaring a goal for the English.

That linesman supposedly, years later on his deathbed, was asked why he gave the goal, and supposedly simply replied, “Stalingrad.”

A Thing We're Excited About:

The Lions of Mesopotamia!

Iraq have qualified for their first World Cup in forty years, a period that has seen the nation squarely in the eye of a global geopolitical hurricane.

The nation of over 46 million is soccer mad, and will have the opportunity to face off some of the World’s most iconic players as they face France, Norway, and Senegal.

That’s not to say they’ll just be along to enjoy the ride. Iraq had to qualify through two additional playoffs that included difficulties getting the squad out of Iraq, and to Mexico, for their match. The side has already beaten the odds to qualify, and are likely to prove a worthwhile opponent for all of their group stage foes.

A Kinda Early Top Five:

We’re past the final international window before the World Cup, so we’re now modifying our qualifier from these rankings from “Way Too Early” to “Kinda Early.”

Please proceed accordingly.

Five Most Likely Players to Become New Household Names in 2026:

5. Jeremy Doku, Belgium

4. Nico Paz, Argentina

3. Desire Doue, France

2. Raphinha, Brazil

1. Jamal Musiala, Germany

Episode 5 of First Touch Weekly is Out Now!

Introducing Kickback Soccer Media’s First Touch Weekly, our premium 2026 World Cup podcast, covering the biggest stories across global soccer—from players and matches to politics, culture, host cities, the fan experience, and beyond. Hosted by Susannah Fuller and David Gass alongside a rotating cast of journalists and experts, the show delivers smart, inclusive analysis and deep dives into everything shaping the road to and through the FIFA World Cup 2026—and continues beyond the tournament as a weekly destination for what’s next in the global game.

This week’s episode tackles the Golden Generation of Norway and their growing diversity with star RB Leipzig attacker Antonio Nusa, and former Norwegian defender Pa-Modou Kah.
Listen here (Apple) or here (Spotify) or wherever you find your podcasts!

Every World Cup Nation, Previewed!

Over at our website kickbacksoccer.com, we’ve launched a first-of-its-kind team by team preview of every participating World Cup nation!

You can find both written overviews, and special video and podcast primers for every country, all right at your fingertips.

Check it out here and tell your friends!

April 1, 2026 — Newsletter #30