First Touch '26 (Copy)

January 7, 2026 — Newsletter #18

Remembering a Random World Cup Legend Every Week:

Three-time World Cup attendee and 2014 finalist, Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez!

Headlines :

• The transfer window has opened in Europe, and some names to watch for this summer are on the move. Brazilian wonderkid Endrick joins Lyon on loan, Canada’s star keeper Dayne St. Claire departed Minnesota United for Inter Miami, and Portugal’s Joao Cancelo rejoined FC Barcelona.
• The biggest move so far is the highly anticipated transfer of Ghanaian star Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth to Manchester City for a fee of around $75 million. The Ghanaians will be watching especially closely to see whether Semenyo cements himself as a star at the highest level, or potentially ends up a rotation option who loses momentum in advance of the summer.
• One of the greatest events in world soccer, AFCON, is well underway, and the biggest surprise is the lack of surprises. The quarterfinals feature World Cup finalists Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, and Ivory Coast, as well as continental powerhouses Nigeria and Cameroon. However, with hosts Morocco featuring one of the most talented squads in the history of Africa, many expect them to lift the trophy.
• Footy Headlines have the leaks from the 2026 World Cup jerseys, and they’re an homage to arguably the two most iconic U.S. Kits; the “Waldo” and the 1994 denim jersey. While both take artistic freedom and carve out a path of their own, the combination of reverence of the past and innovation for 2026 clearly differentiates them from previous Nike productions:

Tickets:

With reports of the number of applicants for the current window of ticket sales exceeding the inventory by more than thirty times, the chances of acquiring tickets are slim.

Nonetheless! Maybe you…yes you! Are the lucky one (who also possesses the amount of liquidity to afford such tickets). Below are the details on the current round:

• Phase Three Application Window: Through January 13th..
• Process: 
  • You will select which matches, and how many tickets.
  • If you select a ticket, and you win the lottery, you will be auto-charged for that ticket.
  • Auto-charges start February 9th.

This is one of the best ways to get your hands on specific tickets, but the prices are exorbitant, so make sure you’re ready for the auto-charge before you move forward!

A Thing We're Excited About:

The Norwegian Golden Generation.

Just as Belgium and Croatia sunset their Golden Generation, a new one arises in the north. With the best goal scorer in the planet, Erling Haaland, playing in front of once of its most prolific midfield talisman, Martin Odegaard, Norway has been demolishing the competition throughout qualifying.

Accompanied by young and dynamic wingers and a resolute backline, the Norwegian side were as dominant as any team in qualifying worldwide.

They’ll be a favorite dark horse pick in 2026, and we’ll get an early peak at their prowess when they face off against France in qualifying.

Newsletter Halftime: Let's Do Some Trivia!

Amongst American soccer supporters, expectations for the World Cup often center around at least matching the USMNT’s best ever finish as a quarterfinalist in 2002.

While Mexico similarly boasts the quarterfinals as their best ever finish, their attempt to match it since 1986 has been an exercise in frustrating futility. Mexico featured a record seven consecutive Round-of-16 finishes between the 1994 and 2018 World Cups, falling short in that match every single tournament.

Mexico reached the quarterfinals both times they hosted previously, putting their historical trends uniquely at odds in 2026.

USMNT Vibes Update:

We’ve had a few weeks off for the holiday, and while Germany is in its winter break, there’s still plenty for USMNT fans to be excited about.

Our current USMNT VIbe Reading: Quarterfinals or Bust. Why?

• Antonee “Jedi” Robinson is back and proving again to be one of the best left backs in the world.
• Weston McKennie not only has clearly won his Juventus starting spot, but now may be one of the most in-form players in Italy?
• Outside of Tyler Adams’ injury, no likely World Cup player has taken a step back, while Brenden Aaronson is all the sudden regularly getting on the score sheet for Leeds United in the Premier League.
• Ricardo Pepi is banging goals in for fun (and maybe on his way to London to bring back the glory days of Fulhamerica.)
• 2025-26 is still on pace to be the best season for USMNT players at their club in history.

In December, Kickback Soccer Media released our special First Touch World Cup nation capsules, each a 10-20 minute story on the past and present of each World Cup nation’s soccer identity, on-and-off the pitch. We’ve nearly released one for all 42 nations who have qualified for the World Cup! 

You can listen to our podcasts and  follow First Touch now by:

• Listening on your preferred platform in our “Kickback ‘26” feed found on our Linktree here.
• Following us on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube @firsttouchksm
• Find our links at kickbacksoccer.com!

Enjoy the video our most recent release, on the nation synonymous with the sport, Brazil: