22 Apr 2026

First Touch '26

Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week

This week it’s Mexico’s Rafa Marquez, because…

Headlines from Off-the-Pitch:

Assistant Coach Rafa Marquez has been announced as the coach-in-waiting for Mexico, set to take over for Javier Aguirre after the World Cup.

Marquez has minimal coaching experience, mainly boasting a short coaching spell as the coach of FC Barcelona’s B squad.

North of the border, the U.S. got some needed good news as star wingback Sergino Dest announced he’s closing in on his return to action with PSV.

Dest has been recovering from a hamstring injury, and many had anticipated he was unlikely to return prior to the end of the season.

Folarin Balgoun is another source for U.S. optimism, having now scored in eight consecutive matches for Monaco, tying a record in France’s Ligue 1.

Finally, USMNT fans may find optimism in a historic start to the MLS season for young American talents. Two players in particular, 19-year-old Zavier Gozo and 20-year-old Niko Tsakiris, notched assists this week in their continued Best XI quality seasons.

Gozo has begun stealing headlines with six goal contributions from his wingback position for RSL, where he has been arguably the biggest difference maker for a top five ppg club.

Tsakiris, a true #10, has led San Jose in a historic transformation that has them in the top three in MLS. If he maintains his form, he’ll join Gozo as a dark horse addition to the USMNT squad.

Headlines On-the-Pitch:

While most of the headlines from U.S. host cities have been downers, Philadelphia has provided some good news this week. Free public transportation and tailgating are on the menu for Philly.

A report from The Athletic shows FIFA selling many of the matches at high prices and at high numbers, but comparatively struggling with the US vs. Paraguay match at SoFi.

Don’t shoot the messenger, but…the dynamic pricing model attempts to optimize pricing by selling at the highest price possible. Best case scenario is a sell out just the day before, and FIFA seem to have their model down pat. We’d expect a sellout.

The 2026 World Cup final will feature the first ever World Cup Halftime Show, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

Finally, for the second week in a row, we have reports of Argentina’s federation facing claims of wrongdoing. This week, it’s a lawsuit that includes Lionel Messi, claiming damages from Argentina’s friendly matches in Florida based upon Messi’s failure to play in one of the matches.

Enzo Fernandez. Kylian Mbappe. Paul Pogba. Thomas Muller. Landon Donovan?

Only one U.S. men’s player has ever won an award at a World Cup, and it’s Landon Donovan. In 2002, a 20-year-old Donovan lifted the FIFA Young Player Award following his stellar contributions to the USMNT’s quarterfinal run.

In 2026, a player will need to be born on January 1st, 2005 or later. As it stands, no player Mauricio Pochettino has called in would be eligible. Could Zavier Gozo or Niko Tsakiris be a shock addition to the squad, and give the U.S. an eligible player and potential heir to Donovan’s 2002 legacy?

A Not Actually Too Early Prediction:

FIFA Young Player Award:

5. Gilbert Mora (Mexico)

4. Lennart Karl (Germany)

3. Estevao (Brazil)

2. Desire Doue (France)

1. Lamine Yamal (Spain, kinda unfair he may be the favorite for the Golden Ball too…)

A Thing We're Excited About:

Türkiye.

Having qualified via the playoff, Türkiye will be a one-of-a-kind team at the World Cup, thanks to their young creative stars Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz. Guler (21, Real Madrid) and Yildiz (20, Juventus) are two of the most dynamic young attackers in the world, and the focal points of the Turkey attack.

Between Guler’s magical playmaking abilities and Yildiz’s world class 1v1 abilities, Türkiye will have the ability to disrupt any defense it faces.

For more on Türkiye, check out our biopack video:

Episode 10 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.

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 22, 2026 — Newsletter #33