# FIFA World Cup 2026 Kickoff: USA, Mexico, Brazil & Norway Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-third-place-pod-5778402/fifa-world-cup-2026-kickoff-usa-mexico-brazil-norway Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-third-place-pod-5778402/fifa-world-cup-2026-kickoff-usa-mexico-brazil-norway.md Podcast: [My Third Place Pod](https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-third-place-pod-5778402) Published: 2026-06-17T06:46:15+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/m3pnetwork/episodes/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Kickoff-USA--Mexico--Brazil--Norway-e3ktaet Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/77fb562c/podcast/play/121595805/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-17%2F426298526-44100-2-135a41a7dafe5.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/my-third-place-pod-5778402/episodes/fifa-world-cup-2026-kickoff-usa-mexico-brazil-norway Duration seconds: 2662 ## Resource Episode 302 The biggest sporting event in the world is finally here. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off, and for the next several weeks, the M3P Podcast is coming along for the ride. This special World Cup episode is a celebration of soccer, nostalgia, community, and the memories that make sports matter long after the final whistle blows. This summer, we're following four teams throughout the tournament: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States πŸ‡²πŸ‡½ Mexico πŸ‡§πŸ‡· Brazil πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄ Norway In this episode, I explain why these are the teams I'm cheering for, what they mean to me personally, and how different moments throughout my life helped shape my love for soccer. We also take a trip down memory lane and talk about: ⚽ Growing up with soccer and neighborhood games ⚽ World Cup memories from childhood through adulthood ⚽ The players, teams, and moments that made me fall in love with the sport ⚽ Why the World Cup feels different from every other sporting event ⚽ The excitement of seeing countries come together through competition We'll also break down: πŸ† Opening match reactions πŸ“Š Early group standings and tournament outlook πŸ”₯ Surprise performances and early storylines πŸ‘€ Players and teams to watch πŸ“… What to expect as the tournament continues Throughout the summer, we'll be keeping score, tracking results, updating standings, celebrating victories, surviving heartbreaks, and sharing the fan experience as the tournament unfolds. Whether you're a lifelong soccer supporter, a casual viewer who only tunes in every four years, or someone discovering the sport for the first time, this episode is all about the passion, nostalgia, and community that make the World Cup such a special event. Welcome to the World Cup summer edition of the M3P Podcast. Welcome to your Third Place. Check out these delicious treats from ⁠… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/my-third-place-pod-5778402/episodes/fifa-world-cup-2026-kickoff-usa-mexico-brazil-norway/transcription-requests` β€” Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-third-place-pod-5778402/fifa-world-cup-2026-kickoff-usa-mexico-brazil-norway.md` β€” Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.