Episodi

  • Why Europe’s two eligible countries choose not to join UEFA | Monaco & Vatican City

    Why Europe’s two eligible countries choose not to join UEFA | Monaco & Vatican City
    Oct 22 2026
    UEFA has not added to its 55 members in a decade – the longest time between new additions since San Marino joined in 1988 – though it has not been for a lack of trying. Greenland have been desperate for competitive football and Jersey have even taken their case to court, but are both regarded as ineligible. Meanwhile, the two countries that do fulfil the current criteria – Monaco and Vatican City – appear to have no interest in joining. So what exactly are the rules for becoming a UEFA member? Why do Monaco and the Vatican choose not to join? How did it go when the Pope talked with president Aleksander Čeferin about potential Vatican membership? And why does Monaco stay away from the European football family despite being home to a former UCL finalist? Plus, the Iberian dispute that changed the rules on membership forever and the other contenders to become the 56th member of UEFA. Join us on Patreon to listen to our back catalogue of more than 100 bonus episodes, enter our football shirt giveaways, join our chat community on Discord, play the daily GeoFooty quiz, read our weekly newsletters and monthly World Soccer columns, and much more besides! Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:50 – Rules on UEFA membership 05:12 – Monaco: Unwilling to gamble? 10:20 – Vatican City: A papal intervention 13:30 – Other contenders for 56th member 15:09 – Jersey: Victory at CAS 17:33 – Greenland: Nowhere to turn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 min
  • What if Bolivia hosted the World Cup? (At 4,000 metres altitude!)

    What if Bolivia hosted the World Cup? (At 4,000 metres altitude!)
    Oct 20 2026
    By 2030, half of CONMEBOL’s 10 members will have hosted a World Cup match. But the likes of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are unlikely to ever follow suit – in large part due to altitude. Bolivia are the absolute kings of elevation, boasting the highest-altitude international stadium in the world (the Estadio Municipal de El Alto, which sits 4,088 metres above sea level) and frequently making mincemeat of superior footballing sides on home turf. So on this episode, we’re simulating what would happen if Bolivia were awarded World Cup hosting rights: Which stadia across the country could host matches? How deep could La Verde go with home advantage on their side? And which low-altitude countries might struggle? Plus, the scientific impacts of elevation on footballing performance and the highest-altitude cities to ever host a World Cup match in real life. Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bonus podcast, in which we tell the story of South Melbourne’s Australia Cup victory – the first non-A-League side to ever lift the trophy – and assess where they will compete continentally next year. Hellas, as they are known, qualify for the AFC Champions League 2 as cup winners but are also one of the eight teams in the OFC Pro League. The Guardian's article: 'Altitude: how does it affect players and how big is England’s disadvantage?' by Nicola Davis is here. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:40 – Bolivia’s altitude advantage 03:47 – Scientific impact of elevation 10:48 – The host stadium line-up 17:54 – Tournament predictions 21:45 – Highest-altitude countries 24:00 – Lowest altitude countries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 min
  • B-Teams in La Liga 2: Problem or catalyst for Spain’s 2026 World Cup win?

    B-Teams in La Liga 2: Problem or catalyst for Spain’s 2026 World Cup win?
    Oct 15 2026
    Real Sociedad were in action in Vigo last weekend – not in La Liga but in La Liga 2, in what is currently the only fixture between two B-teams in Spain’s second tier. The presence of reserve teams has long been a source of fierce discussion and debate within Spanish football, which remains deeply divided over their inclusion. So what are the pros and cons of integrating B-teams into the national football pyramid? Did it really serve as a catalyst for the Spanish team’s 2026 World Cup win in North America? And how does the system compare to other leading European nations? Plus, we look at the rules governing B-team involvement and tell the unlikely story of when Real Madrid Castilla played in the old European Cup Winners’ Cup. Join us on Patreon for a Monday bumper bonus podcast focusing on all things Asian football, from the brand-new AFC Nations League that was recently unveiled to Indonesia’s unlikely hero as they end their 35-year wait for a trophy in the FIFA ASEAN Cup. Check out the range of Spanish shirts at our partner Golaco Kits here. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:31 – A brief history of B-teams in Spain 04:10 – The rules governing their involvement 07:30 – The pros and cons of reserve teams 13:05 – Celta Fortuna v. Real Sociedad B 15:25 – Other leading European leagues 19:58 – The ultimate B-team football quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 min
  • How Albanian giants Skenderbeu earned UEFA’s longest-ever ban (10 years!!!)

    How Albanian giants Skenderbeu earned UEFA’s longest-ever ban (10 years!!!)
    Oct 13 2026
    Almost a decade ago, a scandal shook Albanian football as Skenderbeu were found guilty of match-fixing on an unprecedented scale and banned by UEFA for 10 years. It is the longest ban in European football history, but Albania’s eight-time national champions could return to the continental stage next season if they finish high enough this term. So what exactly did Skenderbeu do to make Manchester City look like absolute saints? How has their conduct impacted Albanian football’s reputation? And which other European club equalled their record only to have their ban reduced by three years on appeal? Plus, we pay a visit to the beautiful Air Albania Stadium to take in a fiery Tirana derby, and we announce The Sweeper's partnership with Futbology which played a crucial role in planning the trip! Join us on Patreon for a deep dive into the newly announced AFC Nations League, which is set to launch in 2030 and will reshape Asia’s World Cup qualification process, and a look at the Millwall player who became a star for Indonesia in their ASEAN Cup success. You can download Futbology here. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:54 – Skenderbeu’s 10-year ban 04:46 – Albania’s Flamingo Revolution and corruption problems 08:53 – Albania’s unusual league format 11:43 – Futbology’s continental badges 15:25 – Tirana derby live report 26:22 – Tourist highlights from Albania Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 min
  • How Hispaniola’s first football derby in 13 years sparked a diplomatic backlash

    How Hispaniola’s first football derby in 13 years sparked a diplomatic backlash
    Oct 8 2026
    Relations on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east, are already fraught enough. But tensions were ramped up even further last week by the events that unfolded at the first football match between the countries in 13 years. So why is the geopolitical situation on Hispaniola unlike almost anywhere else in the world? What happened at that CONCACAF Nations League clash to spark a diplomatic backlash? And how often do two countries on the same island meet on the football pitch? Plus, Caribbean countries leave their Central American counterparts trailing in their wake. And diaspora recruitment continues to change the face of international football. Join us on Patreon to listen to all our podcasts early and ad-free on your platform of choice. Bonus podcasts are also released every Monday with a selection of special stories saved especially for our subscribers. Up this week: minnow magic in the Coupe de France. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:25 – Hispaniola’s complex geopolitical context 03:58 – Crowd rush, stadium ban & diplomatic backlash 09:15 – The match: Dominican Republic 1-4 Haiti 11:53 – Shared island derbies around the world 17:50 – CONCACAF Nations League highlights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    26 min
  • India & China: Why the world’s two largest countries are football's biggest underachievers

    India & China: Why the world’s two largest countries are football's biggest underachievers
    Oct 6 2026
    With a combined 2.9 billion inhabitants, India and China are the world’s largest countries. Yet both of them underachieve spectacularly when it comes to international football. The two Asian nations have made just one World Cup appearance between them and have consistently come up short at continental level as well. So what are the reasons behind India and China’s international soccer struggles? How many years will it be before one of them graces the world’s greatest stage again? And why does a huge population not automatically translate into footballing success? Plus, there’s a word for the world’s other top 10 largest countries who missed out on this summer’s World Cup and how the widespread adoption of the diaspora strategy is making a large player pool less relevant than ever before. You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. The main story is all about the Coupe de France - but not the overseas territories this time. There's an epic 10th-tier cupset, a draw with a missing ball and much more besides! Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – India & China’s football struggles 05:10 – Sporting priorities and systems 06:23 – Grassroots and development 08:39 – Domestic league disarray 11:25 – Corruption and scandal 13:57 – Poor leadership and incompetence 16:53 – Population versus performance 18:55 – Predictions for the future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    25 min
  • Why UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel in draws – and could that change?

    Why UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel in draws – and could that change?
    Oct 1 2026
    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
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    22 min
  • What are the world’s biggest leagues that don't stop for the international break?

    What are the world’s biggest leagues that don't stop for the international break?
    Sep 29 2026
    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
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    21 min