BBC World Service

World Football

Sports EN ↓ 573 episodes

Original football stories and interviews from around the globe.

Author

BBC World Service

Category

Sports

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jan 18, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

A Crazy Week in Manama 11.05.2017

Has FIFA broken its promise to reform? We're in Bahrain to find out. The Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez talks about the one thing in football he'd love to change. And we visit the West Bank settlements to find out more about the football clubs at the centre of a political row between Israel and Palestine. (Picture credit: JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Racism, Bribery and an ex-KGB agent 04.05.2017

Italy's anti-racism adviser, Fiona May, reacts to the latest incident of racism involving Ghana's Sulley Muntari. As football's corruption scandal reaches Asia, we find out more about the men caught up in the latest bribery allegations. And we're in Latvia to hear a story of match-fixers, ex-KGB agents and a former Premier League player who's simply had enough. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Im...

Martin Demichelis, Iheanacho and women's football in Colombia 27.04.2017

Argentina's Martin Demichelis looks back at Manchester City's title win in 2014 and tells us why his former coach Manuel Pellegrini deserves more respect. The Nigerian internationals Kelechi Iheanacho and Kenneth Omeruo discuss their Premier League futures. Plus, we visit Colombia to find out more about the country's new professional women's league. Picture: Martin Demichelis of Manchester City si...

Dwight Yorke, Indonesia and the Assassination of Amilcar Henriquez 20.04.2017

Former Manchester United player Dwight Yorke tells us why he thinks black footballers should go on strike. We find out more about the new league season in Indonesia with Bhayangkara FC coach Simon McMemeny. Friends pay tribute to the Panama footballer Amilcar Henriquez following his murder. And we hear from Brighton and Hove Albion's Israeli players Tomer Hemed and Beram Kayal, who are looking for...

World Cup 2026 and Argentina's search for a coach 13.04.2017

The President of Mexican club Santos Laguna, Alejandro Irarragorri, discusses the 2026 World Cup bid. And what next for Argentina following the sacking of the national team coach? We visit the football club where Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus began his career. And can the former England captain Tony Adams save Granada from relegation?

The Fight for Steaua Bucharest 06.04.2017

Why is one of the most famous clubs in European football, Steaua Bucharest, being torn apart? We speak to the controversial Gigi Becali. Watford's Isaac Success talks about reports that his injuries this season are due to a voodoo curse. And what is it like to be one of the worst teams in the world? We travel to the Turks and Caicos islands to find out. (Photo: FC Steaua Bucuresti supporters durin...

Juninho, Alex Iwobi and King Kazu 30.03.2017

World Cup winner Juninho reflects on Brazil's qualification for Russia 2018. Also on the show, the Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi defends his manager Arsene Wenger. And we hear from Japan's record-breaking striker, the 50 year old Kazuyoshi Miura. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Standing up to the Taliban 24.03.2017

Khalida Popal, standing up to the Taliban Former Afghanistan women's team captain Khalida Popal grew up in a nation under Taliban rule where women were banned from playing any form of sport. She learned to play silently with friends to avoid detection, played on pitches once used for public executions and suffered physical and verbal abuse. Khalida fled her country, years later, and with her playi...

'A Sweet Victory' for Ahmad 17.03.2017

For the first time in three decades, African football has a new President. We hear reaction to the “sweet victory” of 57-year-old Madagascan Ahmad, who goes by that single name. In March 2017, 24-year-old Mohamed Tauseef died of kidney failure and blood sugar complications that were the result of a common, ligament injury sustained while playing for his national team. He was the second Pakistani f...

Russian Hooligans, Zambia's Forgotten Heroes and Atlanta United 09.03.2017

Should fans at next year's World Cup be fearful of hooliganism? We get a Russian view of fan violence. And, why are fans in Atlanta so excited about their brand new soccer team? We're joined by Atlanta United's President Darren Eales. (Photo: Russian riot police. Credit: Getty images)

Wilfried Bony, Besiktas and the Dar es Salaam derby 02.03.2017

Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony explains why he refused a move to China. Find out about Tanzania's biggest club match...but be warned, when city rivals Simba and Yanga meet, things can get a bit crazy! And discover how Besiktas supporters are recovering and finding togetherness through football following last year's bomb attack. Picture: Wilfred Bony of Manchester City celebrates scoring against...

A Messiah, a Ref and a Friend of Alexis Sanchez 23.02.2017

Chile international Mark González talks about his close friend and team-mate Alexis Sanchez. We meet the owner of the Israeli Champions Hapeol Be'er Sheva to find out why the club's fans think she's the new Messiah. And the former referee Kim Milton Nielsen discusses the extreme pressures faced by today's match officals. Picture: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates after he scores the equalizing...

Hugo Broos, Feyenoord and Brazilian Hooligans 16.02.2017

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos reflects on his victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. Dirk Kuyt and Brad Jones talk about Feyenoord's title hopes. And we examine hooliganism in Brazil. (Photo: Cameroon's Belgian coach Hugo Broos is lifted into the air as Cameroon celebrates beating Egypt 2-1 at 2017 AFCON final. Credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

Gun threats, Edu, Allan Nyom & Leicester City's blues 09.02.2017

The shocking story of Kenyan footballer called Clifton Miheso. He claims to have been threatened at gunpoint by his club and forced to terminate his contract. Also on the show, the Cameroon defender Allan Nyom tells us he has no regrets about choosing not to represent his country at the Africa Cup of Nations. And the former Brazil midfielder Edu will be chatting about Manchester City's new striker...

Fun in Gabon: The Final of the Africa Cup of Nations 02.02.2017

A look ahead to the final of this year's Africa Cup of Nations between Egypt and Cameroon. We hear from Cameroon’s Geremi and Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya. Also on the show, the former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena warns that World Cup expansion could lead to African teams embarrassing themselves. And the former Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Zaire, Ghana, Togo and Cameroon coach, Ott...

The Rebirth of Chapecoense 26.01.2017

On Saturday 21 January, Chapecoense took to the pitch for the first time since the plane crash which killed 71 people. The friendly against Palmeiras was a symbolic and emotional return for a club trying to recover from a tragedy. World Football's Mani Djazmi travels to Chapecó to find out how the team and the city are rebuilding, after one of football's great disasters. Also, Otto Pfister talks a...

Africa Cup of Nations and Match Fixing in Cyprus 19.01.2017

The former Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell hits out at the organisation of the Africa Cup of Nations. The AC Omonia coach, John Carver, talks openly about his suspicions of match-fixing in Cyprus. And after being awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Dutch government, what's next for Louis van Gaal? Picture: A Mali supporter cheers for his team ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations...

In Conversation with Dante 12.01.2017

We chat to the Brazilian defender Dante about Nice's surprise title challenge, team-mate Mario Balotelli and former coach Pep Guardiola. Plus, Ghana's Andre Ayew looks ahead to the Africa Cup of Nations. Picture: Dante of OGC Nice during the French Ligue 1 between Nice and Lille at Stade Allianz Rivera (Getty Images)

Salomon Kalou, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Rene Meulensteen 05.01.2017

The Ivory Coast international Salomon Kalou tells us why representing your country at the Africa Cup of Nations could damage a footballer's career. We'll be finding out more about the problems facing one of Israel's most famous and successful clubs, Hapoel Tel Aviv. And Rene Meulenstenen talks openly about the lack of job security for coaches. Picture: Ivory Coast's forward Salomon Kalou during a...

2016: Memories, Tributes and Historic moments 03.01.2017

A tribute to Johan Cruyff and Carlos Alberto who both died in 2016. Plus, the story of Kosovo's fight for FIFA recognition. (Picture: A tribute to Johan Cruyff at Wembley Stadium before a match between England and the Netherlands - Getty).

When Stars Align: The Story of the New York Cosmos 22.12.2016

The story of the rise and fall of the 1970s New York Cosmos, arguably the World's first ever football Super Club. With the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Giorgio Chinaglia they put the game on the map in the USA. But how was a soccer team able to capture the American imagination? And why didn't the good times last? Former players, fans and officials remember a unique moment i...

The Youngest Bundesliga coach - ever! 15.12.2016

Meet the youngest coach in Bundesliga history, Hoffenheim's 29 year old manager Julian Nagelsmann. The former West Ham footballer Clyde Best talks about the racism he suffered in the 1970s. And ahead of the Catalan derby, the Espanyol coach Quique Sanhez Flores discusses his family's love of flamenco. Picture: Head coach Julian Nagelsmann of Hoffenheim looks on prior to the Bundesliga match betwee...

Sepp Blatter: My Biggest Mistake 08.12.2016

An exclusive interview with disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter. He talks about his breakdown following the corruption scandal and talks openly about the mistakes he made. Also on the show...the Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim Watske explains why Red Bull Leipzig are the most hated club in Germany. And the Dutch player Nathan Ake tells us why Chelsea is like Harvard University in terms...

The Tragedy of Chapecoense 01.12.2016

A football team on the way to a Cup final. It was supposed to be Chapecoense's moment of glory, but instead Brazil is left to mourn the dead. Friends of the dead pay tribute and talk of their grief following the air crash which killed 71 people. (Picture: View of a flower hanging from a net during a tribute to the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense Real who were killed in a plane accident in th...

The Boavista Slavery Club and a Chelsea Outcast 24.11.2016

The Nigerian international Michael Uchebo tells how he has been treated ‘like a slave’ by the Portuguese club Boavista. Chelsea's John Obi Mikel says he is ready to quit Stamford Bridge in January if he cannot force his way back into the team. Plus, an interview with the new American owner of Marseille, Frank McCourt, who tells us how he plans to outsmart his rivals. (Photo: Michael Uchebo in acti...

Listen to the World Football podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.