About this episode
Kickback 26 is your front-row seat to the 2026 World Cup. Hosted by David Gass, Claudia Pagan, Heath Pearce, and Eric Krakauer, this podcast breaks down every World Cup group with a mix of tactical insight, big-picture context, and a healthy dose of banter. From host-nation pressure on Mexico, Canada and USA to dark horses, “groups of chaos,” and which third-place teams might sneak through, the Committee walks you through the tournament one group at a time—making sense of the draw, matchups, and storylines that will define 2026.In this section, the team reacts to the World Cup draw and goes group by group, giving their analysis, predictions, and must-watch fixtures. Expect debates over Mexico’s ceiling as a co-host, South Africa’s resurgence, how dangerous Korea can be, what Switzerland and Italy really are at this stage, and which UEFA playoff nations could flip a group on its head. If you want smart, funny, and deeply informed World Cup talk that actually helps you understand what’s coming in 2026, this is where you start. Listen to our World Cup Capsule Podcasts and follow us on First Touch: https://linktr.ee/firsttouchksm 01:35 - Group A 12:01 - Group B 18:59 - Group C 27:12 - Group D 35:07 - Group E 39:35 - Group F 43:00 - Group G 46:37 - Group H 48:58 - Group I 52:02 - Group J 56:01 - Group K 59:22 - Group L