Advertise on podcast: The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

Ireland last year joined Türkiye and Norway in calling for the suspension of Israel’s UEFA membership for what the United Nations has termed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Nations League draw in February 2026 then pitted the two countries against each other, leading to the emergence of a ‘Stop the Game’ movement in Ireland and a request from the FAI for UEFA to keep them apart in future draws. So why exactly did UEFA deny that request? Could that change if they were consistent in applying the criteria they have used for similar cases in the past? And what dramatic scenes unfolded in the run-up to their first meeting in Debrecen on Sunday? Plus, we take a trip to watch FIFA’s newest member Kosovo for the first time as they play Austria in Vienna in the other game in Ireland and Israel’s group. Join us on Patreon to listen to our weekly subscriber-only episodes and our full back catalogue of bonus content, including the podcast from 3 September about the return of football to Palestine after a three-year absence. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:58 – The context for the animosity 03:38 – A dramatic day in Debrecen 06:37 – Ireland’s denied UEFA request 07:00 – Europe’s seven banned fixtures 08:22 – The Serbia-Albania criteria 11:30 – UEFA’s newest member Kosovo - live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Die-hard club football fans love to grumble about the international window, especially now that it has been extended as part of FIFA’s new-look calendar. But it is a myth that top-flight club football completely ceases during international windows. We know because we’ve been poring over the league of all 211 FIFA members! So which countries don’t actually have a football league to speak of at present? Which nations are so closed to the outside world that finding out information is nigh-on impossible? And what is, in fact, the highest-profile league continuing during the September/October window? Plus, French overseas territories hold a special Coupe de France qualifying window and Mexico’s Liga MX unexpectedly bucks a trend across the football world. Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bonus podcast, which was recorded in front of a live studio audience. We bring you the best obscure headlines from the international window, including the Cook Islands’ first home game in 28 years and a controversial call-up in Madagascar. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:23 – Nations with no league 03:45 – Countries closed off to the world 05:31 – Overview: UEFA 07:42 – Overview: CONCACAF & CONMEBOL 10:44 – Overview: CAF, AFC & OFC 13:35 – Highest-profile continuing leagues 15:40 – Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Korea’s Gimcheon Sangmu are one of the most curious clubs in world football, with players only allowed to stay for 18 months while they complete their military service. They also cannot play in AFC competitions and are 100% certain to be relegated from the K-League this season, even if they were to finish top of the table. So are the players footballers, soldiers or both? Is it actually compulsory to perform the military salute when they score a goal? Why are they doomed to relegation in 2026 whatever happens? And what major change is set to come to the K-League soon? Plus, Andros Townsend is run over by a Thai pitch roller, Uruguay chases its first-ever Copa Sudamericana title, an Icelandic referee goes on a literal wild goose chase and Romania introduces a black card for abusive parents. Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales from Central and Eastern Europe, plus a special blog interview with FC Vaduz’s director of football Franz Burgmeier all about Liechtenstein’s integration into Swiss football. Links John Duerden's 'How Football Explains Asia' Substack is here. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Gimcheon Sangmu’s last hurrah 07:55 – Andros Townsend’s Thai accident 10:30 – Uruguay’s first Copa Sudamericana? 14:50 – Romania’s black card initiative 19:45 – Iceland’s literal wild goose chase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There have been 92 editions of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to date. Only two of them have been won by clubs other than Benfica, Sporting and Porto. A whopping 95% of football fans in Portugal support the big three – a share that even dwarves the share of national support for the big three in Türkiye and the Netherlands. So how have the trio established such a fierce grip on the domestic game and its fans? What role have the country’s history and geography had to play? And what chance, if any, does a club outside the big three have of breaking its stranglehold? Plus, countrymen Torreense claim the first European league phase win for a lower-league team in a decade and our partner Golaço Kits holds a Portuguese club shirt giveaway! You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. In it, we take a virtual journey across Central and Eastern Europe to profile four unique clubs, including the village team who lured Real Madrid’s 12th man to Moldova! Links Lee’s ESPN article Paulo Sarreira’s hotel The Golaço Kits website (promo code: SWEEPER10) Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:52 – Triumph for Torreense 02:40 – Big three dominance 07:43 – 95% national support 10:58 – Lusophone influence 14:10 – Potential challengers 18:10 - Golaço Kits giveaway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a lot to love about the English non-leagues, but it will be hard to top the sensational story that emerged about SE Dons goalie George Desmond Kamurasi last week. The 36-year-old, who plies his trade in England’s ninth tier, has been chosen to be the next king of the Tooro people, one of the four traditional kingdoms in Uganda, following the death of his cousin, King Oyo, in late August. There are so many questions to be answered. Who, for example, has chosen him to be the king – and why? Could he miss his cousin’s funeral for football? Does he want to be royalty in Africa? And what might happen if he rejects the offer and stays in the UK? Plus, Dominica’s national team takes the unusual step of appealing on social media for a new goalkeeper, Vanuatu hosts its first professional matches, and Norwegian side Strømmen send their reserves to the Arctic Circle. You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. It features tales from the CAF Confederation Cup, such as the Seychelles side drawn to play in Ebola-hit DR Congo and Botswana club Jwaneng Galaxy’s on-pitch sorcery. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:02 – Uganda’s non-league king 07:04 - Dominica’s online goalkeeper hunt 13:30 - Vanuatu’s first professional match 16:41 – The Norwegian cup cop-outs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The English FA Cup is the oldest and most storied domestic football competition in the world. But it is not the most inclusive. The Coupe de France comfortably takes that title. The tournament not only has 7,000+ participants, but also invites teams from French overseas territories, creating special experiences and mammoth away days for those involved. We have often wondered what the FA Cup would look like if England followed France’s lead. So on this episode, we’re simulating that very scenario: Which British Overseas Territories have enough people and footballers to take part? Which teams would be invited to play? Where would the ties be held? And how would the guests fare against mainland opposition? Join us on Patreon for this Monday’s bonus podcast featuring the underdogs and outsiders in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the Europa League. If you enjoyed the recent episode on the CAF Champions League, this one is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:02 – Disclaimers and caveats 01:35 – Overview of British Overseas Territories 03:11 – The ineligible territories 08:12 – The eligible territories & their teams 11:22 – The big theoretical questions 19:45 – Forecasts and predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices