Footballers Unfiltered - Road to the World Cup

Ryan Christie joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Scotland’s return to the FIFA World Cup, facing Brazil on the biggest stage, and what it means to represent a country heading to its first World Cup since 1998. In Episode 4 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Bournemouth and Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie reflects on growing up in the Highlands, his connection to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and t...

Amir Murillo joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Panama’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fighting for his place just months before the tournament, and what it means to represent a country still carving out its place on the world stage. In Episode 3 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Panama and Beşiktaş right-back Amir Murillo reflects on his earliest World Cup memories, watching qualification wi...

Wataru Endo joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Japan’s rise on the world stage, his race to be fit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and why he believes Japan can surprise the world. In Episode 2 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Japan captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo reflects on his World Cup memories, from watching the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup as a child to beating Germany at Qatar 2022....

Footballers Unfiltered returns for third season – this time, the players are taking you to the World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is coming. And there’s only one podcast taking fans inside it through the voices of the players living it. Season Three of FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered launches with a new host, a new World Cup backdrop and the same unfiltered honesty that has made the award-winning podca...

Pico Lopes’ Cape Verde story started in the most unexpected way: with a LinkedIn message he ignored for nine months. Now, he’s heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, Christiane Endler joins Joe for an open conversation about goalkeeping, inequality, and the responsibility that comes with visibility in football. Since starting this podcast Joe has spoken to players in almost every position across the pitch, but this time, the focus turns to life between the posts. A fellow goalkeeper, Endler reflects on t...

In this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, Leon Balogun joins Joe for a candid conversation about player safety, abuse, and the realities of modern football. Joe and Leon previously faced each other in Celtic vs Rangers, one of football’s most intense fixtures. Reflecting on that environment, Leon explains what it takes to survive at clubs defined by expectation and emotion — and how...

In this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, Marshall Munetsi — Zimbabwe international and Wolves midfielder — charts his journey from Harare to the Premier League, and the purpose that drives him beyond football. A voice for change on and off the pitch, Marshall helped lift the FIFA ban on Zimbabwe’s national team and funds education through the Marshall Munetsi Foundation. Speaking a...

In this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, England and Chelsea right-back Lucy Bronze opens up about her role as both a player and a powerful advocate for change in the women’s game. A member of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council and the PFA players’ board, Lucy has been at the table for England contract talks and global discussions on issues like the match calendar, welfare, and financi...

Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart returns for Season 2 with a powerful conversation about leadership, identity, and activism in the modern game, told through the lens of Australian international and FC St. Pauli captain, Jackson Irvine. A standout midfielder in the Bundesliga, Jackson is also vice-captain of the Socceroos and co-president of Professional Footballers Australia - making him a lea...

Starting a family whilst being an active professional footballer is the focus for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart. We discuss the rigours and demands of what football brings with training and match day, alongside trying to be the version of yourself for your club and teammates.  In 2017, FIFPRO issued a global report on employment within football that revealed only 2% percent...

Football’s relationship with food is the focus for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart. This is because, in 2024, FIFPRO revealed that one-in-five women's players experienced disordered eating over a 12-month period, according to a survey of footballers participating in a study tracking their health.  Disordered eating is an unhealthy relationship with food which covers many behav...

Australian midfielder Josh Cavallo is the guest for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, reflecting on the last four years since coming out publicly as gay in professional men’s football. At the time in October 2021, Cavallo, then 21, was the only current openly gay male top-flight professional footballer. He made the announcement in a video and open letter on social media . Josh...

In this episode we explore match-fixing and the threat it poses to open and fair competition today. To do this, Joe Hart is joined by Samir Arab. Samir plays as a defender for Maltese club Balzan. In 2016, Samir met a former teammate in a cafe and a chat over a coffee led to Samir being banned from football for two years.  Did you know that 1 in 10 of footballers today will be approached in their...

For the first episode in the series, Joe Hart is joined by Juventus and Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini to discuss life beyond football.  During his trophy-laden career, Giorgio attended university in his early twenties to study business administration. Even today he recalls the experience fondly, “what I didn’t expect was that my journey at university was also really useful for my sports performan...

Join ex-England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart for Footballers Unfiltered. This series, brought to you by FIFPRO, is a project which explores what life as a professional footballer is really like.  With a new episode each month through 2025, expect topics that explore both the men’s and women’s game, highlighting player stories and challenges which many people don’t see, and shining a lig...