World Football

Latest Episodes:

Warming Up for the World Cup Mar 29, 2018

Show notes

We’re on the road for the latest round of international friendlies. Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi, Poland's Lukasz Fabianski and Tunisia’s Yohan Benalouane discuss their World Cup preparations. Plus, we hear from 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu. He reflects on Paul Pogba’s worrying form and tells us how Jose Mourinho’s ‘tough love’ is causing serious problems for the French national team. He also tells us why it was more fun to be a footballer in the 1990s than now.

(Picture: Tunisian supporters light flares after their team won 1-0 at the end of the international friendly football match between Tunisia and Costa Rica at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice (VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images).

A Very Curious Match and the Sad Story of Femi Opabunmi Mar 22, 2018

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Was the Malta team that lost 12-1 to Spain in 1983 the victim of a doping scandal? Malta's Carmel Busuttil dismisses claims that they were drugged by contaminated lemons. Nigeria's Femi Opabunmi tells us how his career was cut short after losing the sight in one eye. Canada's international goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe discusses her decision to play for a men's team. And we travel to Minsk to find out if BATE Borisov's domination is damaging for football in Belarus.

(Picture: Spain's 1983 international team pose for cameras ahead of their European championship against Malta - Getty)

Greek Super League Suspension, Veteran Football and Remolding Mali Mar 15, 2018

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What can be done to fix Greek football? With the league suspended after the PAOK president Ivan Savvidis invaded the pitch to protest against a late goal being disallowed for his side, we speak to Herbert Hübel, the man leading the Fifa monitoring committee that oversees football in Greece.

Freddie Kanoute, the former West Ham and Tottenham striker calls for football in his native Mali to be "reshaped" in a bid to rejuvenate the sport in the country.

Former Scottish Professional footballer David Weatherston tells Mani Djazmi how anxiety stopped him fulfilling his potential and ended his career.

75-year-old England international John Shannon Jnr and his most committed supporter, 101-year-old John Senior, explain why veteran football is flourishing.

Photo: PAOK president Ivan Savvidis takes to the pitch carrying a handgun in his waistband after the referee ruled out a last minute goal for his side against AEK Athens. Credit: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

Will Gay Fans Be Safe at the World Cup in Russia? Mar 08, 2018

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With less than 100 days to go to the World Cup Russia’s anti-racism inspector, Alexey Smertin, says that black and gay fans shouldn’t fear going to the tournament but Aleksandr Agapov, President of Russia’s LGBT sports federation, doubts that there will be a legacy after the tournament.

We hear how Jean Ssinende, arguably Uganda’s biggest football star, had to iron clothes for money as a 12-year-old to pay for her first boots, and why she flew to England by herself to start a new life as a 17-year-old.

Chan Yuenting, the only female coach to win a men's league tells us how she first got into football.

And we pay tribute to the life of Davide Astori, the Fiorentina captain and Italy defender who died at the age of just 31.

Photo: A fan-zone screen displays a rainbow flag at the UEFA European Championships in 2016. Credit: Getty Images.

Monday Night Boycotts, Cancelled Seasons and Stadiums for All Mar 01, 2018

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The Borussia Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke explains why German fans are staying home and being counted in protest over Monday games in the Bundesliga.

The world's most expensive defender Virgil van Dijk tells us how he's had to "step up" his game to settle in at Liverpool after his transfer from Southampton.

We hear from the woman behind the Open Stadiums twitter account, a movement of Iranian Women seeking to end discrimination & let women attend stadiums.

Rishi Sehgal, the Interim Commissioner of the North American Soccer League, explains why they've had to cancel their 2018 season after a court upheld a decision by the US soccer federation to deny the NASL a second tier status.

And we pay tribute to the former Spain and Barcelona striker Quini, who died this week at the age of 68.

Photo: Dortmund's "yellow wall" populated by small pockets of fans on monday evening prior to the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg. Credit: Getty Images.

The Troubles of a Premier League Footballer Feb 22, 2018

Show notes

Former Premier League footballer Kieron Dyer talks about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and explains how that affected his football career. The coach of the Afghanistan women's team discusses the challenges she faces. Switzerland international Gelson Fernandes looks back on his time at Manchester City. And we remember the life and times of the record-breaking goalkeeper who was known as Crazy Sword...Malaysia's Chow Chee Yeong.

Saudis in Spain, Mauricio Pellegrino and Östersunds FK Feb 15, 2018

Show notes

Will Saudi Arabia's deal with La Liga backfire if their players don't get game time ahead of Russia 2018? Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino talks about the pressure footballers face. We discuss the state of football in Egypt and visit the Swedish club Östersunds FK.

(Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)

Gus Poyet, Jade North and Gernot Rohr Feb 08, 2018

Show notes

The former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet talks about his time in the Chinese Super League and discusses the pressures of coaching. We also hear from the former Australia international Jade North about his struggles with depression and discrimination. And the coach of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, tells us it's ridiculous to suggest that there's an attitude problem among African players.

(Photo: Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images)

Racism in Germany, Morocco 2026 and Pochettino Feb 01, 2018

Show notes

Nigerian international Leon Balogun talks about the racist abuse he has suffered in Germany. Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino remembers the moment that changed his life and talks about his fondness for Barcelona. We also assess Morocco's bid to host the World Cup in 2026 and speak to Matthew Beard - the coach of the now defunct Boston Breakers.

(Picture by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Taribo West, Steve Parish and the Fifa Way Jan 25, 2018

Show notes

Nigeria's Taribo West talks about the pitfalls of being a footballer. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish discusses his club's turnaround this season. And FIFA whistle blower Bonita Merciades talks about her new book, 'Whatever It Takes - the Inside Story of the FIFA Way'.

(Photo: Taribo West on the pitch. Credit: Mark Sandten/Bongarts/Getty Images)