{"podcast":{"title":"First Touch | World Soccer","slug":"kickback-26-7606085","podcast_index_feed_id":7606085,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/kickback-26/","website_url":"https://kickbacksoccer.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/eb7c02ff-278b-426c-b8be-4fc6c53c8834/firsttouch-podtile-062326.png","author":"Kickback Soccer Media","episode_count":130,"summary":"First Touch is the American home for the global game, exploring not just what happened, but why it matters. From iconic clubs and legendary rivalries to the cultures, communities, and surprising stories that shape the game, we bring the world's game into sharper focus. We're glad you're here.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-24T22:20:03.563979+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085"},"episode":{"title":"First Touch ’26 - Iraq","slug":"first-touch-26-iraq","published_at":"2026-05-13T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085/first-touch-26-iraq","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085","url":"https://kickbacksoccer.com/","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/be044c59-bf15-482b-a021-64e514aa0d62.mp3","summary":"Iraq is headed back to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years after one of the longest and most dramatic qualification journeys in the world. Valair Shabilla explores how soccer became a source of unity and hope through decades of war, hardship, and political turmoil, from the unforgettable 2007 Asian Cup triumph to the celebrations that followed qualification for 2026. Plus, a look at Iraq’s current squad, the rise of dual-national talent, legendary captain Younis Mahmoud, and what this return to the world stage means for Iraqis around the world.","meta_description":"Iraq is headed back to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years after one of the longest and most dramatic qualification journeys in the world. Valair…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1057,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kickback-26-7606085/episodes/first-touch-26-iraq/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085/first-touch-26-iraq.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}