Squiz Kids

It's watched by billions of people. More than 200 national teams dream of qualifying. And when it's over, one team will be crowned the best on Earth.

In this Squiz Kids Shortcut, Christie and Bryce trace the incredible journey of football from ancient ball games in China and beyond, through the codification of the modern game in England, to the creation of FIFA and the first FIFA Men's World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.

You'll also hear Australia's own World Cup story, from the Socceroos' first appearance in 1974 and John Aloisi's famous penalty in 2005, to the Matildas' inspiring run at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

And with the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup just around the corner, Christie and Bryce explain what makes this tournament the biggest ever: 48 teams, 104 matches, three host countries, three opening ceremonies and even a halftime show.

There’s also a S’Quiz at the end… so listen carefully!

For the full episode transcript, click here.

This episode was hosted by Bryce Corbett and Christie Kijurina

Research by Christie Kijurina

Got a topic you'd like us to Shortcut? Let us know at [email protected]

Cute rabbits. Fluffy cats. Tiny mice.

They might look harmless, but some introduced animals have had an enormous impact on Australia's unique environment.

In this Squiz Kids From The Vault episode, we explore the world of invasive species. You'll discover what makes a species "invasive", how animals like cane toads, feral cats and mice arrived in Australia, and why they can cause such big problems for native wildlife and ecosystems.

🎧 A fascinating look at one of Australia's biggest environmental challenges.

For years, scientists have puzzled over one of the most famous features in dinosaur history. Were those little arms useful? Were they a mistake of evolution? Or did they serve a secret purpose?

In this Squiz Kids Science Short, we explore brand-new research suggesting that some giant meat-eating dinosaurs evolved powerful heads and jaws that made their arms less important over time.

Along the way, we discover that evolution just needs to be good enough, and find out why tiny arms may have been a surprisingly successful design choice.

🎧 A quick, fascinating science fix for curious kids and their grown-ups.

A fun kids vs adults news quiz to test who’s been paying the most attention to the week in news.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Your daily kids news podcast.

The case of the missing devil; Operation Mozzie takes off; AFL’s Hawks fans in fake photo drama; and the World Cup’s unlikely hero.

Mary the Tasmanian Devil has escaped from a Queensland wildlife park and is still on the loose!

A New Zealand footballer has gone from 5,000 followers to more than 4 million after being crowned the World Cup’s unlikely hero by an Argentinian influencer.

Scientists are releasing millions of specially bred mosquitoes that could help stop diseases like malaria and dengue fever.

A fake AI-generated image showing a football stadium on fire tricked plenty of people online. Luckily, Squiz-E was on the case, reminding everyone to STOP, THINK and CHECK before believing dramatic posts.

For the full episode transcript, click here.

Researched and hosted by Bryce Corbett