There are plenty of countries with rich soccer history, but you don’t get more “original power” than Uruguay. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass dives into La Celeste. The first true giant of the sport, built on garra charrúa, the national mindset of grit, fight, and doing whatever it takes to win.

We trace Uruguay’s roots from British influence and the earliest clubs, to the oldest international rivalry outside the UK—the Clásico del Río de la Plata with Argentina—and the era when Uruguay essentially owned global football: Olympic gold in 1924 and 1928, then hosting and winning the first-ever World Cup in 1930.

Then we jump to the modern era under Marcelo Bielsa—high press, high chaos, high belief—as Uruguay clinch qualification out of brutal CONMEBOL and head to 2026 with Federico Valverde as the new face of the team and a deep cast that includes Darwin Núñez, José María Giménez, Rodrigo Bentancur, and more. We spotlight a young difference-maker to watch (including Manuel Ugarte), honor forgotten icon José Leandro Andrade, and explain why Uruguay’s domestic passion—Peñarol vs Nacional—still powers a country of just a few million into World Cup relevance every generation.

Mexico has been the backdrop for some of the World Cup’s most iconic moments—and in 2026, El Tri host the tournament for a record third time, hoping home soil can spark another magical run. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass explores Mexico’s deep football identity, its huge domestic league culture, and the enormous pressure of being a host nation—even if expectations for the current squad are lower than usual.

We start at the roots: Cornish miners bringing the game to Real del Monte in the 1800s, the rise of organized leagues, and how the 1970 World Cup ignited the golden age of Liga MX—with massive crowds, playoff drama, and a club landscape that has dominated CONCACAF for decades.

Then we hit Mexico’s World Cup history: early struggles, the host-fueled quarterfinal runs of 1970 and 1986, and the brutal modern reality of the “Fifth Game” curse—six straight Round of 16 exits from 1994–2014, followed by the shock group-stage elimination in 2022.

On the road to 2026, we break down the constant coaching churn and the return of Javier Aguirre (for a third stint), now alongside Rafa Márquez as the succession plan. We look at the veteran core—Raúl Jiménez, Edson Álvarez, Santiago Giménez, Chucky Lozano—and spotlight teenage phenomenon Gilberto Mora as the young player to know.

We also celebrate Mexico’s true superpower: the stage. From Estadio Azteca—one of football’s most legendary, intimidating venues—to the host city energy of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, Mexico will deliver the atmosphere. The big question is whether El Tri can deliver the run.

There is so much to love about South Africa’s national team—Bafana Bafana—from the energy on the pitch to the color and spirit in the stands. In this World Cup Capsule, Kiyan Singh, Kickback Committee's resident South African, takes you inside his home country’s long-awaited return to the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010, and explains why this moment feels bigger than soccer itself.

We trace the sport’s complicated history through colonialism and apartheid—from separate, racially divided football associations and a decades-long FIFA suspension, to the creation of a unified federation and South Africa’s re-entry onto the world stage in the early 1990s. Then we relive the national high of AFCON 1996, with Nelson Mandela lifting the trophy alongside the team, before revisiting the defining moment: South Africa 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s iconic opener against Mexico, and a tournament that helped put African football at the center of the global game.

From there, we break down the road to 2026 under Hugo Broos, whose disciplined approach has restored belief—topping a qualifying group that included Nigeria—and spotlight the players shaping this new era, led by Lyle Foster and a rising pipeline of young talent. He honor national legend Benni McCarthy, explores the uniquely South African joy of Kasi Flava/Diski Magic, and set expectations for a Group A draw featuring hosts Mexico, South Korea, and a European opponent still to be determined.

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.

The land of the Vikings is back on the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998—and Norway arrive as one of the tournament’s must-watch darlings, led by their modern-day “Jarl”: Erling Haaland. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down how the Norwegians turned a generation of talent into a true golden age, built around Haaland’s ruthless finishing and robot-like intensity, and Martin Ødegaard’s leadership and creativity from midfield.

We trace the roots of Norwegian football—from the early clubs and the founding of the federation, to the quirks of a domestic game shaped by weather and geography—then revisit Norway’s previous World Cup moments, including the famous 1994 “four teams on four points” group and the iconic 1998 win over Brazil that sent them to the knockouts. From there, we jump into the road to 2026: Ståle Solbakken’s long, patient rebuild finally clicking into place, an 11-game surge through qualifying, and a side that suddenly looks balanced—dangerous going forward, and far stingier at the back than anyone expected.

We spotlight RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa as the young player to know, pay tribute to Norwegian foundation-layers like John Arne Riise, and explore the country’s uniquely Norwegian football culture—from May 16th rivalry matchdays to some of the most photogenic pitches on earth. Drawn into a heavyweight group with Senegal and France, Norway have arrived with pressure, belief, and a superstar built for the biggest moments.

A country of just 10 million people, Portugal has produced three Ballon d’Or winners—and in 2026 they might be the best bet to become the next new nation to lift the World Cup. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass breaks down how the Seleção went from late bloomers (just two World Cup appearances before 2002) to genuine “sharks” on the international stage, with insight from Portuguese-born commentator Eric Krakauer.

We trace the roots of the game in Portugal—English merchants, students returning from England, and the rise of the Taça de Portugal and Primeira Liga—then tell Portugal’s modern story through Eusébio, Luís Figo, and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose stardom helped transform the country’s global football identity.

From there, we relive Portugal’s greatest moment: Euro 2016, a pragmatic run that ended with a 1–0 extra-time win over France—powered by an unlikely hero after Ronaldo went down injured.

Looking ahead, we dig into Roberto Martínez’s challenge: managing the transition away from Ronaldo’s shadow as he heads toward what he’s said will be his final World Cup at age 41, and deciding what role he should play.

We spotlight PSG midfielder João Neves as a breakout candidate, plus 18-year-old Geovany Quenda as one to watch, and we get into the club-driven intensity of Portuguese football—Benfica, Sporting, and Porto dominating the league and shaping everything from fan identity to the country’s endless “clubism” debates.

Portugal land in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and one more TBD opponent—with quarterfinals (and more) firmly in their sights if they get the Ronaldo equation right.

Brazil. Five World Cups. One bright yellow jersey that means everything.

In this World Cup Capsules episode, David Gass dives into The Seleção—the most decorated nation in World Cup history—and asks the question every fan is thinking: can Brazil finally win a sixth star in 2026? We rewind through the myth and the magic (including the unforgettable 2002 final in Yokohama) and reckon with the modern reality: a powerhouse that’s too often fallen short, from the heartbreak of 2014’s 7–1 to a run of quarterfinal exits.

You’ll hear how Brazil qualified, what’s changed under Carlo Ancelotti, and why this squad, even with their elite talent, still hasn’t consistently looked like a true Brazil team. We also hit the key storylines: Neymar’s uncertain place, the veterans still hanging around, and the young breakout to watch: Estêvão. Plus, a celebration of Ronaldinho as the ultimate symbol of joy, flair, and “Joga Bonito,” and a look at how soccer is woven into daily life across Brazil.

Brazil land in Group C (Morocco, Scotland, Haiti). Hype, pressure, expectation—let’s talk about what happens next.

No country rides the emotional roller coaster of the World Cup quite like Colombia. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass tells the story of Los Cafeteros—a team of dazzling highs and devastating lows, back on the biggest stage after an eight-year absence. We go from the game’s beginnings in Barranquilla and the wild “El Dorado” era, when Colombia briefly hosted the world’s best league, through the joyful, chaotic 1990s: Carlos Valderrama’s iconic hair and passes, René Higuita’s scorpion kick, the rising hopes of a new South American powerhouse—and the tragedy of Andrés Escobar’s own goal and murder, which scarred both the national team and the country’s image during the height of narco-football. Colombia Script

From there, we fast-forward to the 2014 World Cup and James Rodríguez’s star turn, the choreographed celebrations that made Colombia everyone’s second team, and the painful 2022 qualifying failure that forced a reset. We break down the rebuild under manager Néstor Lopez, including a 28-game unbeaten streak, a Copa América final against Argentina, and a 2026 qualifying campaign that saw Colombia finish third in the brutal CONMEBOL gauntlet. With Luis Díaz now starring for Bayern Munich, James still pulling strings in a 4-3-1-2, and Yaser Asprilla emerging as the next great creative talent, Colombia arrive in a Group K clash with Uzbekistan, Portugal, and a yet-to-be-determined opponent eyeing another quarterfinal run. Along the way, we spotlight Valderrama as a national hero, the ferocious domestic rivalries that define Colombian football culture, and even why a country with 18 public holidays might just be the perfect home for the world’s most joyful fans.