{"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 - Switzerland","slug":"first-touch-26-switzerland","published_at":"2026-01-02T20:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085/first-touch-26-switzerland","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085","url":"https://kickbacksoccer.com/","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/40c7c160-eade-49c3-a7ad-ff40cc67fbeb.mp3","summary":"In the land of cheese, chocolate, and army knives, soccer is king—and Switzerland has deeper roots in the sport than most people realize. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down the story of The Nati : a founding FIFA member, a crossroads in football’s spread across Europe, and the quiet host nation that’s literally home to FIFA’s headquarters. We trace Switzerland’s early flashes of tournament success, their revival under Roy Hodgson in the 1990s, and the modern era defined by steady qualification and consistent knockout-round appearances—without ever producing a single “signature” World Cup moment. Then we jump to the road to 2026: Murat Yakin’s possession-first approach, a deep squad built on balance rather than superstar power, and a group that could set Switzerland up for yet another trip to the Round of 16—unless this is finally the year they break the ceiling. Along the way, we spotlight young midfielder Johan Manzambi as one to watch, revisit the legacy of Swiss icon Xherdan Shaqiri , and explore how immigration and multicultural identity have shaped the national team for generations.","meta_description":"In the land of cheese, chocolate, and army knives, soccer is king—and Switzerland has deeper roots in the sport than most people realize. In this World Cu…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":676,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kickback-26-7606085/episodes/first-touch-26-switzerland/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-switzerland.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}