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

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Episodes

In Conversation with Carlo Ancelotti 26.05.2016

Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti discusses life, philosophy and the rise of the superstar manager. goalkeeper Jorge Campos, former Brazil captain Carlos Alberto and others, look back on 50 years of drama at Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium. And the Northern Ireland coach Michael O'Neill discusses his team's preparations for Euro 2016. Picture: Carlo Ancelotti gestures during the UEFA Champio...

Thaksin Shinawatra: One Year at Manchester City 19.05.2016

The former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra looks back on his time at the club. He talks about his relationship with Sven Goran Eriksson, being forced to sell the club after his assets were frozen and how he wanted Claudio Ranieri to be coach. Also on the programme, Turkey's clubs come together to tackle violence and corruption. We catch up with two Englishmen playing in Bangladesh. And wh...

Carlos Alberto Torres: Football's in a Poor State 12.05.2016

Brazil's 1970 World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto discusses the state of the game. He hits out at the lack of quality players and teams. Also, Ajax's final day meltdown, an interview with former Celtic goalkeeper Packie Bonner and a trip to Portsmouth to find out how the club's supporters saved the club after a string of bizarre owners almost drove it to extinction. (Photo: Carlos Alberto, fo...

Kosovo's Historic Moment 05.05.2016

There's controversy and some difficult decisions to be made after Kosovo gain UEFA membership. We hear from the Kosovan-born players who may have to decide whether to stick with their adopted countries or return to play for their homeland. Also on the programme, Sweden coach Erik Hamren looks ahead to Euro 2016. And Arsenal's Alex Iwobi disuccses his break-through season. Picture: Players of the K...

History in Hong Kong 28.04.2016

The first woman to win a men’s professional league tells us who attracted her to the game, what she does when her players are getting changed, and why the different ways that men and women think mean she can’t always understand them. Former New Zealand international Ben Sigmund talks about his World Cup depression, decision to briefly quit football for rugby and overcoming adversity. We’re in Qata...

The Return of Parma 22.04.2016

We are in Parma to speak to the vice-President of the club after their promotion back to the professional ranks of Italian football, a year after bankruptcy forced them to fold. Romania captain Razvan Rat says that terrorism won’t keep him from playing in Euro 2016. He also assesses the La Liga title race whilst Christian Fuchs talks Leicester City. And, we hear from one of the best women's footba...

The Asian road to Russia 2018 14.04.2016

Park Ji Sung and coach Uli Stielike assess South Korea's chances of reaching the 2018 World Cup. Find out about the problems for football on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha reflects on his time at Mancehster United. And what's going wrong at AC Milan? (Photo: Andranik Teymourian of Iran celebrates qualifying for the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Credit: Amin M. Jam...

Ronald Koeman: Remembering the Dream Team 07.04.2016

Ronald Koeman remembers Johan Cruyff and Barcelona's Dream Team. Gianfranco Zola gives his verdict on Chelsea's new coach Antonio Conte. We visit the Thunder Castle, home of Thailand's Buriram United. Plus, Nigeria's Football Federation attempts to defend another crisis and we pay tribute to Cesare Maldini. Picture: Coach Ronald Koeman celebrates his team's goal during the Copa del Rey semi final...

Isha Johansen, Syria and a Belfast derby 31.03.2016

One of the most powerful women in football, Sierra Leone's Isha Johansen, reflects on the FIFA Presidential election, Sepp Blatter's downfall and the lack of women in football politics. After reaching the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers, we hear from Syria's captain Abdulrazak Al Husein and coach Fajr Ibrahim. As Northern Ireland prepares for Euro 2016, what's football like in Belfast th...

Remembering Johan Cruyff 24.03.2016

Friends of Johan Cruyff pay tribute to the Dutch legend following his death this week. Also on the programme, Spain's oldest surviving club, Recreativo de Huelva, is on the verge of extinction. Midfielder Antonio Nunez and former player Ikechukwu Uche give their view on the crisis. And, why has the Colombian national team failed to live up to the promise shown at the 2014 World Cup? Picture: Willy...

Match-Fixing: Punishing the Whistleblowers 17.03.2016

The former referee Steve Goddard says he's in shock after FIFA banned him for two years for his alleged involvement in match-fixing. Why has FIFA punished the whistleblower? With Paris Saint Germain cantering to another title...has French football become boring? Former Monaco coach and St Etienne technical director, Damien Comolli, gives his views. We'll be finding out why so many Spanish football...

The K League Kicks-Off 10.03.2016

As the K-League prepares for kick-off, FC Seoul's Dejan Damjanović discusses the state of the game in South Korea. Also, we head to France to visit the home town of Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez, and speak to his former coaches and team mates. And, in-between the major tournaments, can women's football keep the interest alive? We are at the She Believes Cup in the United States to find out. (Photo...

In Conversation with 'Invincible' Lauren 03.03.2016

Former Arsenal and Cameroon defender Lauren discusses his old club's faltering title bid. We look ahead to the start of the Chinese Super League and the new Major League Soccer season. Plus a Cypriot referee, who has blown the whistle on match-fixing, takes his case to Fifa. (Photo: Lauren of Arsenal takes a throw in during the Uefa Champions League, FC Dynamo Kiev v Arsenal game, at the Olympiysk...

Fifa Election Special: The Result 26.02.2016

We bring you the news and reaction to Gianni Infantino's election as new Fifa President. (Image: Newly-elected Fifa President Gianni Infantino folds his hands during the extraordinary Fifa congress in Zurich. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Fifa Election Special: The Build-Up 25.02.2016

All the build-up to the Fifa Presidential election. Who will succeed Sepp Blatter? We are in Zurich to speak to some of the people who will help make that crucial decision - Canada FA president Victor Montagliani, Sierra Leone FA president Isha Johansen and Guinea Bissau FA president Manuel Nascimento. (Photo: The FIFA logo seen near Fifa headquarters. Getty images)

Chaos in Romania and Dutch Match-Fixing 18.02.2016

World Football travels to Romania to speak to players who have been unpaid for months and are unable to leave their clubs. Also, match-fixing in Dutch football, an interview with Manchester City's French international Bacary Sagna and the inside story on Fifa's former general secretary Jerome Valcke, following his 12 month ban from football. (Photo: The Stadionul Dinamo, home of FC Dinamo Bucurest...

Fifa Election Countdown, Kolo Toure and Robert Pires 11.02.2016

With two weeks to go until the Fifa Presidential election, we get the African angle with Liberian FA President Musa Bility and Nigeria's Segun Odegbami. Kolo Toure and Shanghai SIPG's head of recruitment, Mads Davidsen, discuss the increasing attraction of Chinese football. And we also have a chat with Arsenal legend Robert Pires and PSV Eindhoven striker Luuk de Jong. (Photo: Fifa presidential co...

Gianni Infantino's FIFA dream 04.02.2016

Can Gianni Infantino become the next Fifa president? We assess his credentials. Plus, the former Arsenal and Galatasaray defender Emmanuel Eboue, Chinese Super League recruit Jack Sealy and we visit Western France to find out more about Ligue 1 side Angers, a team pushing for Champions League qualification. (Photo: Fifa presidential candidate Gianni Infantino controls a football after his press co...

David Luiz, Le Havre and Fifa's Latest Fiasco 28.01.2016

David Luiz discusses Paris Saint Germain's dominance of the French league and the club's European ambitions. We also travel to Le Havre to meet the club's American owner and coach as they push for promotion. And we are on the Fifa presidential campaign trail, which takes us to Brussels - where a planned televised debate is cancelled at the last minute. (Photo: David Luiz of Paris Saint-Germain cel...

In Conversation with Wilfried Bony 21.01.2016

Manchester City and Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony talks about his career and dismisses the rumours that he wants to leave the club. Also on the programme...West Ham's Angelo Ogbonna and ADO Den Haag's Gianni Zuiverloon discuss racism in football after an Ajax player was racially abused and subjected to monkey chants. Plus Dynamo Kiev coach Serhiy Rebrov discusses the possibility of Ukraine int...

Liverpool FC and the Quick Fix 14.01.2016

Former Liverpool assistant coach Pako Ayestaran hits out at the club's lack of direction. We investigate suspicions of age-cheating at the under-23 Asian Cup in Doha. West Bromwich Albion striker Adil Nabi talks about his Indian adventure with the Delhi Dynamos. And hear the incredible story of the Irishman who saved Barcelona from extinction during the Spanish Civil War. (Photo: Liverpool FC fans...

The Journey of the Humble Odion Ighalo 07.01.2016

Nigeria's in-form striker Odion Ighalo, who's been one of the stars of the Premier League this season, talks about his rags to riches story. Christian Karembeu gives his verdict on Zinedine Zidane's appointment as Real Madrid coach. Exactly six years after the gun attack on the Togo team bus, goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale talks about his long road to recovery. And, the Nigeria national team coach Sun...

Bhutan's World Cup Adventure 31.12.2015

Hear the incredible story of how Bhutan's national team, previously called 'the worst team in the World', won their first ever World Cup qualification match, in 2015. Also, coach Gary White reflects on an equally impressive year for the tiny Pacific island of Guam. (Photo: Bhutanese fans cheer during a match in Thimphu in June 2015. Credit: Getty images)

Prince Ali's Fifa Ambitions and Birthday Wishes 24.12.2015

Fifa Presidential candidate Prince Ali of Jordan discusses possible back-room deals ahead of February's election and says he is not interested in playing 'political games'. In the week of his 40th birthday, he also gives us his birthday wish - for Arsenal to win the Premier League title. Also, the former Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard looks back at the Africa Cup of Nations. And, we reflect on the...

Goodbye, Mr Mourinho 17.12.2015

Will Jose Mourinho bounce back following his exit from Chelsea? There's trouble in the Netherlands, with the Dutch club ADO Den Haag in danger of going out of business. We look ahead to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. And we visit CS Lewbowski, a unique fan owned break-away club in Florence. Picture credit: Jose Mourinho celebrates winning the Premier League with Chelsea. Credit: Getty image...

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