The Underdog Football Show dives into a packed international break, major developments across European football and a growing crisis at one of England’s historic lower-league clubs.

Chris Horwedel begins with the UEFA Nations League, where Spain extend their unbeaten run to 39 matches after coming from behind to beat England at Wembley. Jürgen Klopp’s difficult start with Germany continues after a draw with the Netherlands and a historic home defeat to Greece, while Portugal win in Norway without Cristiano Ronaldo and Belgium, France, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Finland highlight the rest of the international action.

The episode also examines Jarrad Branthwaite’s unusual injury-recovery story, including neurological testing in Germany designed to identify why recurring hamstring and groin problems kept returning, along with the broader debate over evidence, pseudoscience and marginal gains in elite football.

Then it’s down to the National League for a deep look at Hartlepool United’s disastrous start. New American ownership, a competitive budget, 14 new signings and promotion ambitions quickly gave way to Lee Clark resigning after nine league matches, another heavy defeat and Hartlepool searching for yet another permanent manager.

Transfer stories include Matt Miazga joining NYCFC, Colorado Rapids investing in 17-year-old Akol Akon and David Alaba’s reported move toward Udinese, before the focus shifts to the Women’s Champions League and early tests for Chelsea, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Finally, the show addresses the enormous Manchester City-Premier League financial case, following reports that the independent commission found City guilty on 114 of 115 charges. With City continuing to deny wrongdoing, no final publicly confirmed sanction and an appeal expected, the case remains one of the biggest unresolved stories in English football.

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Manchester City, Arsenal and Gateshead FC anchor this weekend’s sweep through the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, WSL and the English National League. Chris Horwedel breaks down Manchester City’s 5-3 win over Sunderland, Brighton’s 3-0 defeat of Arsenal, Brentford’s 3-0 win over Chelsea, Liverpool’s progress behind Alexander Isak, Tottenham’s five-match winless start, and Manchester United’s draw with Fulham.

The conversation also follows Raphinha’s Barcelona hat trick, Atlético Madrid’s Madrid derby win, Borussia Dortmund’s perfect Bundesliga start, and Frosinone’s surprising Serie A run. MLS angles include Cavan Sullivan and the Philadelphia Union comeback, Nashville’s playoff push, and the current MLS Cup picture.

The deepest segment revisits Gateshead FC five months after one of the National League’s greatest relegation escapes, with Lee Cattermole, Rob Elliot, departures, reduced roles, infrastructure and ownership questions, and whether the club dismantled too much of the team that survived. The episode closes with PFA Player of the Year discussion, WSL results, and women’s transfer news involving Atlético Madrid, Juventus, PSG and Chicago Stars.

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The Underdog Football Show returns with Chris Horwedel breaking down another packed week across the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, MLS, National League South and the women’s game.

The Premier League leads with the latest Manchester derby, the early title picture involving Arsenal and Manchester City, Liverpool’s uneven opening month, Tottenham’s attacking problems and Hull City’s surprising start after promotion.

In Europe, Chris recaps the opening Champions League round, including PSG, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Como and several other contenders, before checking in on Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga and a dramatic weekend in Serie A.

MLS coverage centers on Inter Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia Union and 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, whose remarkable run continues to demand attention.

This week’s lower-pyramid story examines Ebbsfleet United, whose season began weeks late after financial problems, league suspension and the threat of expulsion.

The transfer section features Michail Antonio’s return to English football, James Rodríguez returning to Colombia, several under-the-radar European moves and notable additions in the women’s game.

Chris also checks in on the WSL, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

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The Underdog Football Show breaks down the first three weeks of the Premier League season, with Arsenal and Manchester City still perfect, Liverpool earning its first win, Hull City remaining unbeaten without conceding, Tottenham still searching for a league goal and Manchester United continuing its chaotic start.

Chris Horwedel also looks across Europe, where Barcelona capitalized on losses by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, while Inter came from two goals down against Napoli and Juventus drew with AC Milan. In MLS, Lionel Messi continues piling up records, Portland delivers a nine-goal thriller, Cavan Sullivan makes more history and Toronto produces another wild draw.

The episode’s lower-league deep dive focuses on Bath City, where supporters who controlled the club for nearly a decade overwhelmingly voted to transfer ownership to a private investment group. It’s a fascinating case study in the strengths and limitations of fan ownership, stadium finance and what sustainable community control can realistically look like.

Finally, the show reviews the end of the transfer window, led by Enzo Fernández’s £125 million move to Manchester City, Malick Fofana choosing Sunderland after a dramatic deadline-day battle, plus smart moves involving Hull, Fulham, Everton, Manchester City Women and West Ham.

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The Underdog Football Show breaks down the second week of the Premier League season, where early results are already challenging preseason expectations for clubs including Hull City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Chris Horwedel looks at Hull’s surprising start, Liverpool’s adjustment under Andoni Iraola, Tottenham’s difficult opening under Roberto De Zerbi, and Manchester United’s response after a rough first weekend. The show also examines Chelsea’s perfect start under Xabi Alonso and Newcastle’s early progress with Matthias Jaissle.

Elsewhere in England, Wrexham’s Championship adjustment continues, while the lower-league spotlight turns to Walton and Hersham, whose rapid rise into National League South has created an unusual dispute over matchday revenue and the economics of playing at a ground the club doesn’t control.

European coverage includes dramatic Champions League qualifying, with Celtic, Fenerbahçe, LASK, Bodø/Glimt and others fighting for league-phase places.

The transfer section covers major movement involving Ollie Watkins, Carlos Baleba, Allan Elias, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Daniel Muñoz and Jenni Hermoso, plus several developing deals as the window approaches its close.

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The Underdog Football Show returns with the Premier League opening weekend, major European results, transfer news and one of English non-league football’s most interesting ownership rescues.

Chris Horwedel breaks down Arsenal-Coventry, Manchester City-Bournemouth, Hull City-Manchester United, Ipswich-Sunderland, Brighton-Aston Villa and Newcastle-Liverpool, along with Wrexham-Watford in the Championship. The episode also heads across Europe for Barcelona-Elche, Atlético Madrid-Villarreal, PSG-Rennes, Trabzonspor-İstanbul Başakşehir and the opening weekend of Serie A.

This week’s lower-league story focuses on Ebbsfleet United, where new owner John O’Leary and consultant Roddy Collins are attempting to stabilize the National League South club following serious financial problems.

The transfer section examines Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City, Carlos Baleba to Manchester United, Savinho to Tottenham, Taiwo Awoniyi to Coventry, Axel Disasi to Crystal Palace and Hull’s reported interest in Mohamed-Ali Cho.

Chris also highlights Seattle Reign signing Ami Diallo from ASEC Mimosas, a move that reflects the growing globalization of women’s soccer scouting.

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On this episode of The Underdog Football Show, Chris Horwedel breaks down the return of the EFL, a remarkable Women’s Africa Cup of Nations run, Champions League qualifying, major ownership stories, and another busy week in the transfer market.

The show opens in the Championship, where newly promoted Bolton Wanderers mark their return with a long-awaited win over Preston North End, while Lincoln City plays second-tier football for the first time in 65 years against Middlesbrough. League One delivers immediate drama through Reading-Luton, while Leicester City begins its latest chapter against Notts County.

In MLS, Nashville’s meeting with Inter Miami highlights why the Eastern Conference conversation can no longer revolve entirely around Lionel Messi and Miami.

Women’s football takes center stage with Malawi reaching the WAFCON final against Cameroon in its first-ever appearance at the tournament. Chris examines Malawi’s extraordinary run from debutants to 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and continental finalists, led by Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.

Champions League qualifying reaches its decisive playoff round with seven league-phase places available. The show previews Levski Sofia-AEK Athens, Dinamo Zagreb-Viking, Fenerbahçe-Lyon, Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Sabah, Celtic-LASK, Slovan Bratislava-Celje and NEC-Bodø/Glimt.

Arsenal and Manchester City also meet in the Community Shield, providing the first competitive look at Enzo Maresca’s post-Pep Guardiola City against the defending Premier League champions. Chris examines Arsenal’s changing expectations and the latest Premier League futures and relegation odds.

Off the field, Fenway Sports Group agrees to sell a 30% minority stake in Liverpool to an investment consortium involving Amit Bhatia, Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin. Chris explains what the transaction suggests about Liverpool’s valuation and why elite football clubs increasingly function as scarce global assets.

This week’s EFL deep dive focuses on Northampton Town and reported takeover discussions with Sports Alpha Capital, a consortium that includes former Brazil and AC Milan star Alexandre Pato. The episode explores what new investment could mean for a recently relegated League Two club and the questions supporters should ask before celebrating a celebrity-backed ownership group.

Transfer coverage includes Ferran Torres joining Paris Saint-Germain, Cristian Romero leaving Tottenham for Atlético Madrid, Aston Villa’s links to Zion Suzuki, Emiliano Martínez’s future, Djed Spence and Inter Milan, Arne Engels and West Ham, plus Jenna Nighswonger returning to the NWSL with Bay FC and Paulina Nyström joining Leicester City Women.

The episode closes by looking ahead to Arsenal-Coventry and the beginning of the new Premier League season.

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On this episode of The Underdog Football Show, Chris Horwedel covers a soccer calendar that has immediately snapped back into full speed after the World Cup, with Leagues Cup chaos, WAFCON World Cup qualification, the start of the Carabao Cup, a wild J1 League opener, major transfers and a remarkable lower-league story from Rochdale.

The show opens with Leagues Cup, where Inter Miami and Lionel Messi continue to dominate headlines alongside Noah Allen, while Portland produces another high-scoring MLS–Liga MX matchup. In Japan, Kashima Antlers and Yokohama F. Marinos deliver one of the most dramatic opening-day games anywhere in world football.

In England, Middlesbrough and Wrexham begin their Carabao Cup campaigns before Chris turns to the Premier League title picture, where Arsenal and Manchester City lead the latest futures board and the expectations around defending champion Arsenal have clearly changed.

WAFCON reaches the quarterfinal stage with World Cup qualification directly on the line. Chris previews Algeria–Ivory Coast, Morocco–South Africa, Cameroon–Nigeria and Malawi–Ghana, with Malawi’s extraordinary debut tournament and the Chawinga sisters remaining one of the biggest stories in women’s international football.

This week’s EFL deep dive focuses on Rochdale. After 102 consecutive years in the Football League, relegation sent the club into the National League. Three years later, Rochdale produced a 106-point season, endured an extraordinary final-day title heartbreak and still found a way back through Wembley and an 18-year-old goalkeeper. The twist: manager Jimmy McNulty left almost immediately after delivering promotion.

Transfer coverage starts with Bruno Guimarães completing his move from Newcastle to Arsenal, giving Mikel Arteta one of the deepest midfields in Europe. Newcastle, meanwhile, continues a summer of enormous transition after losing several major players and Eddie Howe.

Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor becomes one of the most surprising transfers of the summer, ending a defining Liverpool career and sending one of the Premier League’s greatest modern players to Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri could accelerate Manchester City’s post-Pep Guardiola transition, while Ipswich adds Saša Lukić, Crystal Palace takes a low-risk chance on Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ismaël Bennacer emerges as an intriguing free-agent option.

In women’s football, Kerolin completes a record move from Manchester City to Barcelona, while Manchester United appoints Eva Olid after her rapid rise with Hearts.

The episode closes with an update on FIFA’s abandoned private-investment plan.

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