{"podcast":{"title":"First Touch '26 World Cup Podcast","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/18b0ac78-0fa4-4703-b61d-878064448fa7/firsttouch26-podtile-062326.png","author":"Kickback Soccer Media","episode_count":112,"summary":"First Touch is the home for World Cup 2026 storytelling and modern soccer coverage guiding fans from the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and beyond. From premium podcasts and original series to smart analysis and cultural context, First Touch brings new, emerging, and diehard fans inclusive, American-driven perspectives on the stories shaping the global game, from now, through World Cup 2026, and into soccer’s future.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-23T10:18:22.450637+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."}]}}