{"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":"WCQ Happiness & Heartbreak From Iraq To Italy - EP. 7 First Touch Weekly","slug":"wcq-happiness-heartbreak-from-iraq-to-italy-ep-7-first-touch-weekly","published_at":"2026-04-02T22:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085/wcq-happiness-heartbreak-from-iraq-to-italy-ep-7-first-touch-weekly","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/kickback-26-7606085","url":"https://kickbacksoccer.com/","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ed1d7fb1-83c6-412a-8c4c-8dd5f48d5768.mp3","summary":"We have a World Cup. With the completion of the UEFA and intercontinental playoffs, all 48 nations are now confirmed—the countdown is officially on. Hosts David and Susannah cover all the action, from the jubilation of Iraq, Sweden, DR Congo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifying, to the heartbreak of Kosovo, Ukraine, Denmark, and Italy falling short. We also hear from Michele Giannone on how he really feels about his beloved Italy missing out—again—as well as from our own Valair Shabilla, recorded live from Monterrey, Mexico, where he witnessed his homeland, Iraq, qualify for the first time in 40 years. 2:55 News On Under Fire World Cup Managers 5:10 Recap Of World Cup Playoffs 15:37 Valair Shabilla Takes Us On The Ground To Iraq vs Bolivia 20:30 Esmir Bajraktarevic, Bosnia & Italy's Pain w/Michele Giannone","meta_description":"We have a World Cup. With the completion of the UEFA and intercontinental playoffs, all 48 nations are now confirmed—the countdown is officially on. Hosts…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2171,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kickback-26-7606085/episodes/wcq-happiness-heartbreak-from-iraq-to-italy-ep-7-first-touch-weekly/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/wcq-happiness-heartbreak-from-iraq-to-italy-ep-7-first-touch-weekly.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}