The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

Bodø/Glimt continued their sensational debut UEFA Champions League campaign by beating Italian giants Inter in the Arctic Circle – after 80 tons of snow had first been cleared from their pitch, of course.But did you know Norway is home to an even snowier pitch, 1,000km further north at the very top of the world, in a place where seeds are stored for the event of an apocalypse and people carry rifles to the supermarket to stave off polar bear attacks?So who used to play here, on this northernmost 11-a-side pitch in the world? Why did it all change after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? And why do so many Liverpool fans live in this Arctic wilderness?Next, we hop over to Central America, where a family feud is ruining birthdays and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. So what scenario is unfolding here that is happening nowhere else in the world?Finally, there’s a club in a local amateur league whose players are forced to play every match at home. Why are they banned from ever playing away? And which former professional footballer is employed to guard them? Chapters00:00 – Intro01:34 – Bodø/Glimt's UCL magic04:51 – Football at the top of the world07:59 – Four fun facts about Svalbard12:27 – El Salvador's family feud16:02 – Family coaching battles20:03 – Poland's Nazi-defying club22:51 – Hashtag United's cup clash26:06 – Jonker Boys' unusual restriction Around The World in 80 Clubs: ⁠https://geni.us/WorldIn80Clubs

The most-played match in world football has been contested nearly 1,000 times – yet most fans have never heard of it.Join us on a journey to a tropical corner of the planet as we uncover a rivalry first played in 1914… and still being contested today.Who are the two teams involved? Why have they faced each other so often – an average of seven times a year for over a century? And what could finally slow this extraordinary fixture down in 2026?Next, we explore the remarkable story of a top-flight club who have not lost a league game since before the pandemic. How have they stayed unbeaten for so long – and why, despite that run, are they still not the most dominant team in world football?Finally, we turn to the international game and the national team hoping to represent what could become the world’s newest country in 2027. But if independence comes, will they be welcomed into the global football family – or left waiting on the sidelines? Chapters00:00 – Intro01:14 – The world’s most-played fixture11:21 – Other contenders for the title14:45 – The longest unbeaten run in history22:00 – Around The World in 80 Clubs25:30 – The world’s newest national team? Bougainville – A New Country: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/126735-000-A/arte-reportage/Around The World in 80 Clubs: https://geni.us/WorldIn80Clubs

A sleepy town of 22,000 people in southern Slovakia is home to a top-flight football club that is challenging for national titles and boasts an ultra-modern, sleek stadium that is entirely out of step with its surroundings – thanks to money from abroad.We paid a visit to Dunajská Streda to watch local team DAC 1904 play domestic giants Slovan Bratislava in a top-of-the table clash in Slovakia. But this was no ordinary game. It was the most politically charged football match we’ve ever seen.The reason for that lies far beyond the football pitch. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is funding clubs in neighbouring countries as part of a broader political strategy – one that may help him win re-election in April and shape the balance of power in the EU.Elsewhere, the Copa Libertadores is reportedly preparing to invite guest clubs from Mexico and the US to participate in the competition starting in 2027, while Chinese football has hit a new low after nine of the Super League’s 16 clubs were deducted points.Chapters00:00 - Intro01:49 - Live game: DAC 1904 v Slovan Bratislava14:32 - Viktor Orbán's political power play21:18 - Copa Libertadores guest invitations23:04 - Analysis from Jon Arnold25:59 - China's Super League low point27:21 - Analysis from John DuerdenSources for the lead storyAtlatszo: https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/12/11/the-orban-government-spent-billions-on-hungarian-football-clubs-in-serbia-romania-and-slovakiaBalkan Insight: https://balkaninsight.com/2025/07/08/hungary-and-croatia-build-stadium-for-e7-5-million-in-village-of-500-inhabitantsDenník: https://dennikn.sk/1380564/bolo-to-ako-vojna-bitka-policajtov-s-fanusikmi-dunajskej-stredy-po-ktorej-sa-zmenil-zakon/Radio Free Europe: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-orban-sport-influence-romania/31977287.htmlSalzburger Nachrichten:https://www.sn.at/sport/fussball/international/dac-dunajska-streda-orbans-aushaengeschild-in-der-slowakei-art-371392

Qarabağ have made Champions League history this season, becoming the first Azerbaijani club to ever reach the knockout stages of the competition – and setting up a play-off tie against Premier League team Newcastle United.Their run has come at a time of dramatic geopolitical change in the South Caucasus, with the club preparing to return to their hometown of Ağdam after spending more than three decades in exile in the capital Baku.Elsewhere, Bodø/Glimt stunned the continent by qualifying for the knockouts despite not playing domestic football since November, while Benfica hit the headlines with a goalkeeper goal and a viral TV interview from a local priest.Club Brugge also progressed through the league phase, but that will not be the enduring memory of their season for three fans who accompanied the team to Kazakhstan and ended up in jail in one of the strangest away-day stories of the season. Ghost Cities FC by James Montague for the BBC: www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0lxg7xyChapters00:00 – Intro00:41 – Qarabağ's historic Champions League run02:01 – A story of exile and homecoming07:22 – Soft power and state support10:50 – The secret to their sporting success14:37 – The challenges ahead: Newcastle and Sabah17:02 – Patreon preview: Chapecoense and South America18:33 – Another milestone for Bodø/Glimt21:45 – Benfica's keeper goal and priest interview26:07 – Brugge's congratulations and Borat arrests

Christmas has come and gone, but for Santa Claus – the football club that is, not the man with the beard – the other big moment of the year is fast approaching. This amateur team of tourism and post office workers are about to enter the Finnish Cup – their one big moment each year to show they are more than just a novelty name. But beyond Lapland, what else is so unique about the competition? We speak to Tomi Leivo-Jokimäki, the chief organiser at the Finnish Football Association, about its soaring popularity, English influence and the trophy's wacky back story. Finally, we take a look at other unique cup competitions across the European continent – from France’s all-inclusive cup to Bosnia’s strange final. Chapters00:00 – Intro00:32 – Santa Claus' other big moment03:38 – The uniqueness of the Finnish Cup05:42 – A typical run in the competition07:40 – Favourite Finnish club names09:38 – Interview with Tomi Leivo-Jokimäki23:20 – Patreon episode sneak peak24:29 – Cup craziness across Europe

In just three seasons, a small-town club from central Luxembourg have gone from third-tier obscurity to challenging for the top-flight title.   At the heart of their rise is president Carlos Teixeira, a construction entrepreneur who literally built the club’s stadium himself before reluctantly taking over the reins.  On this episode, we tell Atert Bissen's story – before heading to the Netherlands, where an amateur club in the KNVB Beker are guaranteed to lift a trophy whether they win the competition or not.  To complete the Benelux trio we finish off in Belgium, where an angry father, a potential Iraqi investor and a revolving door of coaches have allegedly turned Olympic Charleroi into a hot mess.  Chapters00:00 – Intro00:45 – Atert Bissen’s remarkable rise06:35 – Rapid risers across the globe08:40 – De Treffers & the Blue Pine Cone14:40 – Amateur rewards worldwide18:00 – Chaos at Olympic Charleroi22:20 – Special Sweeper announcement

In Part 1, Lee & Paul preview the inaugural OFC Pro League – the first fully professional football competition in Oceania’s history – which kicks off in New Zealand on Saturday 17 January. What matches will take place in the first circuit series in Auckland – and where can you watch them? Which team will have to travel the furthest and cross the International Date Line for their fixtures? Who are the standout players to watch out for? And what does the new tournament mean for the future of the OFC Champions League?In Part 2, there are stories from Europe, Africa and Asia. In Germany, a former Bundesliga coach is managing two McDonald’s restaurants – but what other unusual careers have footballers had after hanging up their boots? At AFCON, Mali have turned to a fetish priest to tip fate in their favour for their game against Tunisia. What on earth is one of those, we hear you ask?! And finally, Japan prepares for its transition to an autumn-spring league. But which J-League club have been royally screwed over by the switch? Chapters00:00 – Intro04:11 – OFC Pro League: Format & fixtures08:58 – OFC Pro League: Distances & date lines13:24 – OFC Pro League: Intriguing individuals23:23 – OFC Pro League: Concurrent competitions27:54 – The German ex-coach working at McDonald's31:32 – Strangest former footballer careers38:53 – Mali's fetish priest & Gabon's letter46:03 – Japan's schedule switch & Fukushima United

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Asia correspondent John Duerden to cast a look at some huge stories across the continent – in India, Malaysia and South Korea. What on earth happened on Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of Kolkata? And why is the world’s largest country still without a top-flight league months after the season should have gotten under way? What has the fallout been from Malaysia’s attempt to illegally naturalise seven players? And why did Gus Poyet resign in protest after winning the double with Jeonbuk in South Korea?In Part 2, Africa correspondent Ali Howorth drops in before flying to Morocco to give us the lowdown on AFCON 2025 and help us decide which team to support at the tournament. Then it’s over to Europe to put the Ekstraklasa under the microscope. But what unique situation that we have never seen before has occurred in Poland’s top flight? And finally, to mark the festive season, there is a mention for Christmas Island – an Australian overseas territory that is known for its red crabs and its football rivalry with the nearby Cocos Islands.World Soccer magazine special offer: shop.kelsey.co.uk/sweeperxmas25John Duerden’s Substack newsletter: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.comAli Howarth’s AFCON flow chart: https://x.com/ahoworth97/status/2001293214012014953Chapters00:00 – Intro00:35 – India’s Super League crisis08:56 – Other leagues in limbo worldwide11:29 – Malaysia’s naturalisation scandal21:47 – Gus Poyet’s Jeonbuk departure27:17 – AFCON 2025 in Morocco39:55 – The crazy Polish Ekstraklasa44:25 – Mayhem & chaos across UEFA48:00 – Christmas Island and red crabs53:45 – On The Spot - The Apertura crown

In Part 1, Lee and Paul take a deep dive into Canadian football, including the national team's World Cup draw, Vancouver Whitecaps' incredible campaign and the changes to the line-up in the Canadian Premier League. Do Canada have a chance against Qatar, Switzerland – and probably Italy? Will the Vancouver Whitecaps be able to stay in Vancouver? How on earth did the Canadian Premier League's bottom club qualify for the top continental competition? And who are FC Supra du Quebec, the new club joining the division in 2026? In Part 2, it's the usual array of stories from across the world. Several French overseas territories award four points for a win – but what other location-specific football rules exist around the world? Lee tests Paul in a quiz! Over in Norway, a season of surprises continues as Viking claim the Eliteserien and second-tier Lillestrøm win the Norwegian Cup. We hear from Viking's No.1 overseas fan Babsi! And finally, the 2026 World Cup group stage draw is now done and dusted. Which debutant has the best chance of going through? Copa 90 documentary on Vancouver Whitecaps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Hnk37Lwo8 Weird and wacky football rules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_tournament_ranking_system#Association_football Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:47 – Canada's World Cup prospects02:38 – The Vancouver Whitecaps story07:24 – Relocation fears11:35 – Vancouver FC's Champions Cup qualification15:33 – The newcomers: FC Supra du Québec17:50 – The departure: Valour FC19:43 – The rebrand: Inter Toronto24:33 – Four points per win in the Caribbean28:15 – Bizarre football rules quiz36:30 – Norway's season of surprises48:14 – Debutant World Cup groups50:38 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by North and Central American football expert Jon Arnold to talk about the craziness in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Why did Curacao fly from Bermuda to Jamaica via London in the November window? Why has Haiti's French coach Sebastien Migne never set foot on the island? How did an uncelebrated last-gasp own goal save Suriname's World Cup hopes? And was it a cowardly move for Steve McClaren to resign as Jamaica coach with the play-offs coming up in March? In Part 2, the focus switches to three stories across three different continents that have caught our eye at Sweeper HQ: promoted Thun's Swiss title charge, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh's move to Rwanda, and a controversial new championship title in Argentina. What has coach Mauro Lustrinelli done to help Thun take the Super League by storm this season? What exclusive club have the Sudanese duo of Al Hilal and Al Merrikh joined by moving to Rwanda? And will Argentina really have eight title-winners every year?!  More from Jon Arnold:YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jonarnoldfcSubstack newsletter: https://getconcacafed.substack.com  Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:51 – Curacao's World Cup miracle13:17 – Haiti's triumph in face of adversity23:47 – The own goal that saved Suriname26:57 – The inter-confederation play-offs28:35 – Steve McClaren's Jamaica exit35:40 – Thun's extraordinary Swiss title tilt39:48 – 2025: The year of the promoted club41:48 – Sudanese duo's Rwanda move45:19 – Trivia: Three-country football clubs46:49 – Argentina's new championship title51:07 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Nathan Joyes, a South American football expert and the host of the Copa Club Podcast to talk about some sensational stories from the CONMEBOL nations this season. Why do Chile’s new champions Coquimbo Unido have a pirate theme? Which strategic decision helped Mirassol rise from the sixth tier to the brink of the Copa Libertadores? Is there something in the water in Argentina, where underdogs are sweeping up the trophies? And which other South American country deserves a special mention? In Part 2, the focus moves to elsewhere in the southern hemisphere: Oceania. Lee attended the soft launch event for the OFC Pro League, the continent’s first-ever professional competition, and has some interesting nuggets to share. Where and when will the OFC Pro League get under way? How will the tournament benefit the Tahiti and Fiji national teams. Is Christchurch United’s rebrand as South Island United a good or bad decision? And would South Melbourne theoretically be able to represent Oceania at the Club World Cup? More from Copa ClubPodcast: https://linktr.ee/thecopaclubSubstack: https://thecopaclub.substack.com Chapters00:00 – Intro01:48 – Chile’s pirate champions08:53 – Brazil’s meteoric risers18:47 – Argentina’s year of the underdog21:03 – Bolivian identity fraud25:09 – Sweepers On Tour26:11 – OFC Pro League recap28:02 – OFCPL: Launches & logistics33:27 – OFCPL: Coaches & CEOs37:15 – OFCPL: Rebrands & reserves40:29 – OFCPL: Non-OFC neighbours45:16 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee sits down with Virslīga President Maksims Krivunecs in Riga for an inside look at the Latvian football landscape. What is Latvia’s unique claim to fame within the 55 UEFA countries? Why have five of the country’s nine different champions since independence gone out of business? What does the average Virslīga footballer earn per month? And why is he in favour of setting up a Baltic League along with Lithuania and Estonia?In Part 2, Lee returns to the virtual studio to dissect Maksim’s grand plan for a Baltic League and tell Paul all about the live experience at the Latvian Cup final. What format for the Baltic League take and how would the three stages of the competition work? What is the likelihood of it ever happening? Why was the Skonto Stadium in Riga only 14% full for the big match? And what exactly is the strange relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK?*There is NO official proof on paper of an official relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK. Our source regarding their curious connection is Baltic Football News: balticfootballnews.comChapters00:00 – Intro01:10 – The good and bad of Latvian football04:23 – The vanishing champion problem12:11 – Memorable European nights20:05 – The Baltic League grand plan28:08 – Format, strengths & weaknesses37:37 – The 2025 Latvian Cup final47:20 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul reflect on ultimate underdogs Mjällby becoming Swedish champions and the key figures behind their unlikely Allsvenskan triumph. How have sporting director Hasse Larsson and coach Anders Torstensson shown courage in the face of adversity? Why are Mjällby the best-ever team in Swedish history? And why is the village of Hällevik looking for a new postman? And from one first-time champion to another, Titas Teiten of Baltic Football News has the lowdown on new Lithuanian title-winners Kauno Žalgiris. Part 2 continues in Lithuania, where Lee has paid a visit to second-tier champions TransINVEST and their stunning newstadium to ask some key questions. How does a new club based in a village outside Vilnius and owned by a logistics company build a fanbase from scratch? What has the reaction been in the rest of Lithuania? And why is football firmlyin the shadow of basketball in this beautiful Baltic country? To finish off, there are tales of helicopters, heartbreak and heroism in Ireland, Iceland and Kazakhstan respectively. More from Baltic Football NewsRead the Baltic Football News WebsiteListen to the Baltic Football Podcast Chapters00:00 – Intro00:45 – The Mjällby miracle09:37 – Kauno Žalgiris with Baltic Football News 14:08 – A trip to TransINVEST 29:45 – Ireland’s marathon helicopter31:51 – Relegation for cup winners Vestri32:50 – Final-day drama in Kazakhstan34:23 – On The Spot

In Part 1 of this special episode, Paul is joined by African football expert Ali Howorth live from the Cape Verdean capital of Praia to talk about the country’s historic World Cup qualification. What force of nature helped the islanders get the job done against Eswatini? What were the highlights of the after-party? What role has the Dutch city of Rotterdam played in Cape Verde’s success? And why might the Blue Sharks have more fans than expected at the World Cup? In Part 2, Lee and Paul hear from Cape Verde central defender Roberto Lopes, who explains the story of his international recruitment via LinkedIn, and discuss everything from diaspora to donkeys. Why are there as many Cape Verdeans living overseas as on the islands themselves? Which geographical and demographical records have they broken by qualifying? And how has the Portuguese colonial rule shaped the domestic game today? More from Ali HoworthOn The Whistle Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@otw_podcastSubstack Newsletter: https://alasdairhoworth.substack.com/ Chapters00:00 – Intro01:52 – Ali Howorth live from Praia18:47 – Cape Verde shirt giveaway20:00 – Diaspora and DMs24:07 – Roberto Lopes voice note26:37 – Best international recruitments28:58 – World Cup’s smallest nations35:14 – Domestic football and donkeys

In Part 1, Lee tells Paul about his travels to watch pod favourites Greenland and San Marino live during their respective trips to Austria over the international window. How did he impact the course of the Arctic island's match against Slovenia from the sidelines? What insights did he glean from inside the Greenland camp? Why is the legendary Austrian striker Toni Polster so bitter towards San Marino? And what question did Lee ask SM coach Roberto Cevoli at the press conference following his side's double-digit defeat? There's more groundhopping tales to tell in Part 2 – but this time from the club game, because Lee has also been to watch Paks against Ferencváros in a Hungarian top-of-the-table clash in Budapest. What resemblance do Hungary's surprise league leaders bear to Athletic Bilbao of Spain? Why is their ultra group named 'Atomic Strike'? Why did thousands of Ferencváros fans change places in the stands five minutes into the match? And why might we not recommend live football in Hungary to groundhoppers? Support The Sweeper• Join The Sweeper on Patreon• Support The Sweeper on Buy Me A Coffee LinksWatch Greenland's Football Heroes (in German) hereChapters00:00 – Intro00:30 – Greenland: Assists & red cards07:01 – Greenland: Insights from the camp14:27 – San Marino: Double-digit demolition20:23 – San Marino: The press conference25:39 – Paks: The Athletic Bilbao of Hungary29:12 – Football Manager save ideas31:37 – Paks: Robbie Keane's many meltdowns35:00 – Paks: The power plant ultra group

In Part 1, Lee and Paul investigate why Slovakia have finally been recognised as EURO 1976 winners 49 years later – with the help of a UEFA insider, a Slovak football podcaster and people on the ground in the capital, Bratislava. How is the successor country of a no-longer existing nation like Czechoslovakia determined? What brought about the update on UEFA’s website on 12 September? And what do Slovaks make of the bizarre timing of this decision?In Part 2, the focus switches to the Italian lower leagues. There’s a mafia infiltration at Crotone at Foggia, as various criminal gangs target teams based in the south of Italy. Further north, Ternana appoint the 23-year-old daughter of a billionaire as their new club president. And Italy-based FC Südtirol face WSG Tirol of Austria, the club with only one away fan (sort of), in an intriguing match-up of two teams based in regions that used to be in the same country.#slovakia #euro1976 #uefa #worldfootball #footballpodcast #crotone #ternana #seriec #serieb #italianfootballSign up to FIFA+ for free• This episode is brought to you in association with FIFA+. Click here to get your free FIFA+ account and watch live football around the world: ⁠www.tinyurl.com/FIFAPlusSweeper• Send us an email to sweeperpod@gmail.com with some information about yourself and your preferences if you want us to handpick you a new FIFA+ football team to support.#MakeItHappen – Montserrat v India friendly• X: https://x.com/SweeperPod/status/1970926209614979083• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_v2AMDeq8/Support The Sweeper• Join The Sweeper on Patreon• Support The Sweeper on Buy Me A CoffeeFollow The Sweeper• Twitter: x.com/SweeperPod• Instagram: instagram.com/sweeperpod • Facebook: facebook.com/SweeperPodThe Sweeper team• Hosts: Lee Wingate and Paul Watson• Editor: Ralph FosterChapters00:00 – Intro00:51 – Czechoslovakia's EURO 1976 win05:27 – Football successor nations09:28 – UEFA's recognition for Slovakia14:21 – Reaction from Bratislava25:47 – Montserrat's challenge to India30:04 – Crotona's mafia infiltration35:00 – Atalanta U23s in Serie C south37:47 – Ternana's 23-year-old club president42:17 – Serie C on FIFA+44:04 – Battle of the Italian & Austrian Tyrols46:10 – WSG Tirol's one away supporter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Sweeper Podcast, we cover the big stories from 2026 World Cup qualifying and the latest international football news from Europe and beyond: Part 1: EuropeAustria’s stadium sinkhole saga continues as Ralf Rangnick takes to an e-bikeRomania’s Mircea Lucescu becomes the second-oldest international coach everKosovo are unofficial world champions - but continue to face geopolitical challengesErling Haaland apologises mid-game as Norway beat Moldova by record 11-1 scoreSlovakia and Iceland upset the odds to record famous World Cup qualifying wins Part 2: Rest of the worldSuriname turn around their fortunes with sports passport initiative & Dutch DNABolivia rely on altitude again to give themselves an edge in World Cup qualifyingUzbekistan continue incredible year by beating Iran to win 2025 CAFA Nations CupNepal cancel Bangladesh friendly due to civil unrest & elect new leader on DiscordNorthern Mariana Islands’ U23s face China in one of football’s biggest mismatches The Sweeper is the global football podcast bringing you weird and wonderful stories from every corner of the planet. Whether you're into underdogs and upsets, ultras and fan culture, groundhopping and travel, derbies and rivalries, geography and geopolitics, or simply want a break from the relentless churn of big-money football, The Sweeper has you covered! Support The Sweeper: Join The Sweeper on PatreonSupport The Sweeper on Buy Me A Coffee The Sweeper team Hosts: Lee Wingate and Paul WatsonEditor: Ralph Foster Chapters: 00:00 – Intro00:58 – Austrian sink holes and bicycles05:34 – Mircea Lucescu: Football’s oldest coach?09:08 – The 2025 Amateur Nations Cup11:14 – The World Tram Driver Championship13:48 – Kosovo’s unofficial world title16:18 – UEFA’s seven banned match-ups21:35 – Norway’s demolition job on Moldova26:33 – Celebrations for Slovakia & Iceland31:03 – Suriname’s World Cup push34:59 – Bolivia’s strategic masterclass38:25 – New Caledonia’s Gibraltar friendly40:56 – Uzbekistan are Central Asian champions42:29 – Nepal’s protest-related cancellation45:02 – China’s U23s thrash Northern Mariana Islands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by travel YouTuber John McAllister to talk about his epic 5,000km overland journey from Wales to Kazakhstan to watch the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier. There’s also a full round-up of the UEFA club competition action – including Kairat Almaty's Champions League heroics, Malta’s first-ever league phase participants, Universitatea Craiova’s naughty stadium announcer and the Basel-Freiburg airport derby. In Part 2, it’s off to the Pacific to put the new OFC Professional League under the microscope. There is a full breakdown of the newly announced eight-club line-up, the format and all the big talking points around Oceania’s first pro competition, which is set to launch in 2026. Also on the agenda are Tuvalu’s upcoming return to OFC competition in the Men’s Futsal Cup, a giveaway of a rare national team shirt and a round-up of all the action coming up on FIFA+.Sign up to FIFA+ for free:This episode is brought to you in association with FIFA+. Click here to get your free FIFA+ account and watch live football around the world: ⁠www.tinyurl.com/FIFAPlusSweeperSend us an email to sweeperpod@gmail.com with some information about yourself and your preferences if you want us to handpick you a new FIFA+ football team to support.Support The Sweeper:Join The Sweeper on PatreonSupport The Sweeper on Buy Me A CoffeeFollow John Mac TravelsWatch John Mac Travels on YouTubeFollow John Mac Travels on InstagramFollow John Mac Travels on XThe Sweeper teamHosts: Lee Wingate and Paul WatsonEditor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1, Lee & Paul round up their favourite European football stories – which all have a geography theme. How is fishing village club Mjällby on the cusp of a shock first Swedish title? Why did fellow minnows Bruk-Bet Termalica have to cut down the corn fields around their stadium? Which two Lithuanian teams contested the ‘Centre of Europe’ derby at the weekend? And what Belgian club is based on Europe’s weirdest international border?In Part 2, it’s time for the rest of the world – starting with international debutants the Marshall Islands! Which historic feat was achieved by Madison University economics student Josiah Blanton? Which other player at the Outrigger Challenge Cup works for Disney+ in Denmark? Why did airlines refuse to take Haitian club AS Capoise to the CFU Club Shield in Trinidad & Tobago? And who are the tallest and shortest currently active pro footballers?Please follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/sweeperpodJoin The Sweeper on Patreon: patreon.com/sweeperpodSupport The Sweeper on Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee/sweeperpod“How Mjällby are gatecrashing Sweden's elite” by BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crm4wjdr7xpo“I Became a Football Team’s ONLY Fan” by Away Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwvsRKCpCIWorld's oldest professional footballer on playing at 59: 'I won't put limits on myself' by The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/17/worlds-oldest-professional-footballer-playing-at-59-mykola-lykhovydov-ukraineEditor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Part 1, Lee & Paul bring you the best stories from the UEFA club competitions. FC Copenhagen are preparing to cross the Øresund Bridge to Sweden in the Champions League, but what record will the tie break? Which Kazakh club located as far east as China could make it into Europe’s premier club tournament for the first time? Why did Welsh side Penybont have to splurge €3,300 on their trip to Lithuania? Is there a more Satnav-friendly international tie than Shelbourne v. Linfield? And what can we expect from the new UEFA Women’s Europa Cup? In Part 2, there are stories from Greenland, Australia, Japan, Norway, Estonia & Bolivia. How did B-67 player Søren Kreutzmann spend his one rest day at the 2025 GreenlandicFootball Championship in Nuuk? What all-time record did fourth-tier Nunawading City set in the Australian Cup round of 32? Which Japanese university team has been making headlines in the Emperor’s Cup? How could Lillestrøm be knocked out of the 2026 Norwegian Cup before contesting the 2025 final? And what on earth is Colombian footballer Efmamjjasond González named after?! Please follow us on Instagram if you don't already: instagram.com/sweeperpod Join The Sweeper on Patreon: patreon.com/SweeperPod Support The Sweeper on Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/sweeperpod Editor: Ralph Foster