The FootPol Podcast

Quite the own goal for the FIFA Peace Prize.

Do have a listen if you can. This is what we've managed to glean so far. As the days pass things will become clearer, more likely at the Iran FA's end rather than FIFA or UEFA.

New Insta-FootPol episode: as war breaks out between the US, Israel & Iran, what does it mean for the 2026 World Cup? We examine Iran’s possible withdrawal, FIFA’s silence vs Russia sanctions, and whether fans will react. Listen, share & subscribe. www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Yes, that's us. 100 episodes so far. And on we go.

Check out the 100th here and then go back to the other 99: www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Iranian football association unsure if national team will play at World Cup in US The president of Iran’s football federation says he does not know if the national team can play World Cup matches in the US after the US and Israeli bombardment of the country

Given Russia was sanctioned for invading Ukraine, why is the focus on Iran not playing? Shouldn't the US be sanctioned for starting this war--and in contravention of both national and international law? FIFA has questions to answer about its World Cup host. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

100 episodes! 🎙️

Our latest looks at Cabo Verde’s first-ever World Cup qualification and what it means for nation-building, identity and postcolonial politics.

With Emmanuel Charles D’Oliveira & Nuno Domingos.

Football, diaspora, islands, and the global stage. www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Carnival or Control? Politics and the 2026 World Cup ft. Pete Watson & Roger Magazine Podcast Episode · The FootPol Podcast · 2 February · 54m

In our recent podcast with @footpolpodcast.bsky.social, Roger Magazine and I talked about how issues in Mexico were going very much under the radar due to Trump, ICE and US policy in general. Suddenly everyone is aware of Mexico’s own ongoing issues again… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Our latest episode. If you haven't listened to it, then do. @assiletoufaily.bsky.social provides an excellent history and contemporary insight into women's football in the Middle East, which has been much overlooked.

What is he doing at the Board for "Peace"? Hasn't he got a World Cup to organise? Which, if you've listened to out recent episode with @drpetewatson.bsky.social and Roger Magazine, requires some serious attention. bsky.app/profile/adam...

a female soccer player wearing a white shirt with the number 10 on it ALT: a female soccer player wearing a white shirt with the number 10 on it

And when you've listened to the episode, please consider sharing it with others, liking/rating it on your platform of choice and subscribing for new episodes, our every second Monday!

⚽ New FootPol episode out now!

Women’s football in the Middle East is changing fast — from Morocco’s pro leagues to Saudi investment drives and grassroots struggles in Lebanon.

We speak with @assiletoufaily.bsky.social on power, politics & the future of the game. www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

'UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe In an interview with Sky News's Ed Conway, Sir Jim says Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges, among them an unprecedented rise in immigration in recent years.

Maybe he meant to say Old Trafford, where foreigners make up 75% of his players? Otherwise he's talking rubbish. news.sky.com/story/the-uk...

Carnival or Control? Politics and the 2026 World Cup ft. Pete Watson & Roger Magazine

The latest podcast came out a week ago on Monday on @footpolpodcast.bsky.social discussing recent events involving Latin America and the forthcoming Men's World Cup. Here's the direct link: open.spotify.com/episode/3qBK...

It was a great pleasure to be on the @footpolpodcast.bsky.social again to discuss various issues involving Latin American and the World Cup, including the FIFA peace prize, The USA armed intervention in Venezuela, Mexico’s hosting of the WC and fears of ICE, fan safety, potential protests etc

Big thanks to @drpetewatson.bsky.social for suggesting the topic. It's an important and timely one and well worth listening to.

Recent headlines have called for a boycott of the US as a 2026 World Cup host.

Our new FootPol episode with @drpetewatson.bsky.social & Roger Magazine digs into the politics behind 2026: visas, borders, Latin America, fan access, and FIFA power. 🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Sepp Blatter suggests fans should not travel to US for World Cup The former Fifa president backed a Swiss lawyer who called for a boycott of the tournament due to security concerns in the US

Quite the journey since 2010 when he wanted the US to get the 2022 tournament over Qatar and was shooting daggers when he opened that envelope. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Concerned European football chiefs discuss response to Trump over Greenland European football’s leaders are increasingly concerned about Donald Trump’s wish to annex Greenland and have held initial discussions about how the sport could respond

Would UEFA or any of the I divisible national associations really call for a boycott over Greenland? No, they'd probably come out with some line that football and politics shouldn't mix. Sure... 🙄
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

New episode!

Football growth without full professionalisation?
We talked with CJ Price, Director of Football at Palmerston North Marist FC, on NZ football’s league restructure, pay caps, volunteers, women’s game, futsal & what a looming World Cup might change. 🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

We've compiled a list of every Premier League club and how many followers on X they have here. Leaving would affect some more than others, but it doesn't need to be immediate. They could phase it out and use alternative social media instead.

Co-host @guyburton.net has asked his club, @theshots.bsky.social to leave X, but it's a small club and would be symbolic. But a Premier League club? It would be a statement.

If you care about this, perhaps ask your club to do the same?

In the UK the government continues to post on X while Grok sexualises images of women and children.

In football, every Premier League club is active, despite 71% of players being foreigners—the very people X users demonise and even as Liverpool claims to “Stop the Hate.”

It’s time they came off.

Congolese Fan Steals Spotlight During Botswana vs DR Congo AFCON Match – News54 YouTube video by News54

Farewell Kuka Muladinga. We appreciate the impressive effort you brought to our subject area of fusing football and politics via your frozen Partice Lumumba pose during DR Congo matches at AFCON. You will be missed. youtu.be/rag86qVxQ9k?...

Happy New Year! Our latest episode is out, where Raffaele Nicholson of Bournemouth Media School helped us understand what really happened when the FA took over women’s football in 1993. Essential listening, so do like, review, share and subscibe!

🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Out now — and our last episode of the year ⚽🎙️

We speak with former Clemson University player Sydney Minarik on women’s football pathways in the US, Title IX, pay-to-play, injuries and her move to Australia’s NPL.

Back in January.

🎧 Listen: www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Out today!

After last week’s World Cup draw, we dive into Uzbekistan’s first-ever qualification—a story of football, politics & a nation redefining itself. Listen as we talk to Donat Iskanderoff, Uzbek groundhopper.

First episode in our debutants series.

🎧: www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Football isn’t just a game — it’s Britain’s X-ray.

In our latest episode, @davidgoldblatt.bsky.social joins FootPol to unpack his new book, Injury Time, diving into Brexit, covid, inequality, climate change and how football reveals the state we’re in.

Do listen!🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Found the podcast thanks to the FH reshare, great new addition to my listening rotation. Very thought-provoking episode; especially the part about the inclusion of minorities and women's football history in museums. Look forward to going through the Footpol back catalogue ⚽🎧

Thanks Chris. Good to have you with us. We're constantly trying to bring in the experiences of the overlooked in football so do let us know if there are other topics and issues we should look at.

Grassroots leagues revive China's soccer dream An amateur soccer league organised by farmers, students and factory workers in rural China has unexpectedly drawn millions of fans and inspired big cities to form their own, raising hopes China can grow talent from the ground up and finally become a global force.

From last week, buit it prompts a question: could it be a sign of things to come? Could it happen with the world game and in its biggest markets? If so then it would be a counterweight to entities like FIFA and UEFA. www.reuters.com/sports/socce...