10 Sep 2025

First Touch '26

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Remembering a Random World Cup Legend:

2002 Bronze Ball winner Hong Myung-bo, who now coaches the South Korean national team.

World Cup Tickets Update:

Each week First Touch ‘26 will provide an update on the best way to purchase tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

We’re starting with tickets today because THE VISA PRESALE LOTTERY IS NOW OPEN.

You have until September 19 to register for the lottery. There are three steps:

Create a FIFA ID at fifa.com and log in at any point during that window to enter the random lottery.
Go here and enter the queue to submit for the lottery. Do this now!
If selected, you’ll receive an email sometime no earlier than September 30.

We know what you’re thinking: “I’ll do it this weekend! I’ve got so much time!!”

No, you won’t. Do it now.

Qualifying:

In CONMEBOL, Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay locked in qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while Messi played what was likely his last home match for Argentina. However, the big story was Bolivia stunning Brazil as Venezuela blew a lead against Colombia to fall 6-3, thereby sending Bolivia to the intercontinental playoff and ending Venezuela’s World Cup dream.

In European qualifying, Italy found a lifeline defeating Israel 5-4 in a chaotic match featuring four goals after the 80th minute and a stoppage time winner. Meanwhile, Kosovo pulled off the upset of the weekend, beating Sweden 2-0 and imperiling the Swedes’ World Cup hopes. Otherwise, the favorites largely ran up massive victories including Norway’s 11-1 obliteration of Moldova, which featured five goals from Erling Haaland.

Morocco became the first African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Tunisia joining soon after. South Africa stayed unbeaten with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria, extending their 22-match run and leading Group C on 17 points. Elsewhere, Egypt drew with Burkina Faso, Kenya beat Seychelles 5-0, Shalulile scored a hat-trick for Namibia, Niger stunned Tanzania, and Gabon tied Ivory Coast.

The U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2-0 loss to South Korea over the weekend set off alarm bells, as another anemic performance raised further questions about Pochettino’s reign as Head Coach. A shift to a 3-4-2-1 formation late in that match, however, led to ninety minutes of the tactic in a 2-0 win over Japan that didn’t answer every question, but showed a path forward that may optimize the U.S.’s attack-minded fullbacks, and Christian Pulisic’s role in the squad.

Headlines:

Dynamic pricing is returning for the World Cup. Dynamic pricing, the much maligned model that changes ticket prices based on demand (remember the Taylor Swift tour?), is sure to drive World Cup ticket prices to record highs.

Morocco is one of the hosts of the 2030 World Cup, and as part of their preparations, they are setting up courts in their stadiums. If you think that’s weird, well, Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium used to have an “Eagles Court.”

Messi is noncommittal about participating in the 2026 World Cup, saying it depends on fitness. Our thoughts? C’mon, he’s playing.

U.S. Soccer is finalizing the USMNT’s sendoff matches, with a match in Atlanta against Portugal slated to be announced.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani announced a petition to FIFA to ditch dynamic pricing, discount tickets for local residents, and cap resale prices.

Pitches in Peril:

A groundbreaking study conducted by Football For Future. Some of their findings clarify the crisis at hand, and the need for action:

10 of 16 stadiums hosting next year’s World Cup already breach safe-play limits due to extreme heat.
By 2050, nearly 90% of North America’s host stadiums will require adaptation to extreme heat.
By 2050, two-thirds of the childhood pitches of icons like Messi, Ronaldo, Salah and Mbappé will exceed safe heat limits for play.

Check out the report, share on social media, and make the changes you can in your life to ensure future generations can continue playing the sport we all love.

You could be forgiven for not knowing the name of the all-time leading scorer in a single men’s World Cup Match, Oleg Salenko. After all, he started the 1994 World Cup on the bench for Russia.

Yet, on a fateful day at Stanford Stadium, Salenko bagged five goals against Cameroon. In addition to his one goal against Sweden, Salenko finished with six goals and tied Hristo Stoichkov for the Golden Boot despite Russia being knocked out in the group stage.

Those six goals were the only goals Salenko would ever score for Russia.

Cheers, Oleg!

A Thing We're Excited About:

The South Korea fans at the USMNT friendly confirmed what we all know… no matter where a match is played, or who is playing in it, there are already thousands of fans of that country here in the U.S. who will pack the stadium to support their team.

Level Up:

Each week Kickback approves the leveling up of a player who has taken that crucial leap with their game.

This week, we highlight the new Brazilian star of the future, Estêvão Willian. Estêvão is everything you’d want from a new Brazilian talisman. The electric winger features elite pace and 1v1 ability, and the final third product to cap it off.

Following his surprising debut with Chelsea, where he became the youngest ever Chelsea player to earn a Premier League assist, Estêvão scored his first ever goal for Brazil at the legendary Maracanã.

Allocate your points wisely, Estêvão.

USMNT Player of the Week:

Club America’s Alex Zendejas is this week’s USMNT Player of the Week.

Featuring in the starting lineup as one of the two attacking midfielders against Japan, Zendejas not only scored off a wonderfully cushioned volley, but additionally applied sustained pressure against Japan off-and-on the ball.

Zendejas was singled out by head coach Mauricio Pochettino after the victory over Japan, with Pochettino noting that “[w]ith this type of performance, he’s in the race for the roster of the World Cup.”

Qualified Teams (so far):

Here are the countries who have booked their spot at the final tournament, so far!

U.S.A, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Morocco, Tunisia

September 10, 2025 — Newsletter #3