The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

Eritrea’s national team haven’t played an official match in seven years.

But this month, the Red Sea Camels are making their long-awaited return to the international stage in AFCON 2027 qualifying.

So what kept Eritrea away? Why are they returning to the fold now? And do they have any chance against Eswatini?

In this episode, we take you on a virtual journey to the Horn of Africa – and shine a light on the only country excluded from the FIFA rankings.

Plus, the Belarusian team in exile in Poland and the Russian war critic making waves in Cyprus.

Sweeper football shirts: ⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠

Deutsche Welle documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMRQQYGNBK8

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:14 – Eritrea’s international absence
04:55 – Dictatorships and defection
09:16 – The long-awaited return to the fold
13:30 – The state of play in the national team
19:02 – Poland’s Belarusian club in exile
22:47 – Sweeper shirts and special bonus pod
24:17 – Russia’s war critic turned club owner

A World Cup co-host is at war with another participating nation.

Since the United States launched strikes against Iran at the end of last month, the big question in the football world has been whether the latter will still play at the World Cup.

So will Iran play or not? Could they even face the United States? And who would likely replace them if they were to withdraw?

Today, we run through all the conceivable scenarios and analyse the most turbulent build-up to a World Cup in living memory.

Plus: The Barcelona fan who went to the wrong St. James’ Park and Welsh club Llantwit Major’s hilarious cup run.

BUY THE SHIRTS: ⁠⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠⁠

Get £6 off with Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/sweeperpod⁠

The Guardian on the 1930 World Cup: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/13/world-cup-stunning-moments-25-conte-verde-uruguay

The Los Angeles Times on India:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:55 – Iran’s World Cup predicament
04:35 – USA fit to host tournament?
08:09 – Scenario 1 – Iran play at World Cup
11:25 – Historical precedents for withdrawals
16:40 – Scenario 2 – Iran withdraw from World Cup
20:55 – Barca fan’s extreme travel mix-up
29:17 – Llantwit Major’s wacky cup run

Steaua Bucharest, Romania’s most successful club, no longer exists.

Instead, two teams now both lay claim to the original club’s success – including the highly prized 1986 European Cup.

So who is the true successor? Why did UEFA change its mind four decades later? And could they ever play against each other?

In this episode, we take you inside one of European football’s oddest disputes: the battle for Steaua Bucharest’s history.

Plus: The Italian coach who sacked himself after 44 years and the German pirate island club with no opponents.
BUY THE SHIRTS: ⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠
 
Get £6 off with Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/sweeperpod
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:57 – FCSB’s nightmare season
02:19 – The battle for Steaua’s history
10:09 – Unlikely European Cup winners quiz
14:07 – Gigi Becali: Football’s craziest owner
17:39 – The coach who sacked himself
23:04 – Football’s longest-serving managers
26:10 – The club with no opponents

Welcome to The Sweeper Podcast. Each week, we bring you the most extraordinary global football stories from across the 211 FIFA countries and beyond.
New episodes are released at 8pm UK time every Tuesday. For bonus podcasts every Thursday at the same time, sign up at patreon.com/sweeperpod.

In North Korea, even football is shrouded in secrecy.
Fixtures in the DPRK Premier League aren’t published. Fans only find out matches are happening when notices appear outside the stadium the day before. You can’t check the scores. And you can’t watch full games on TV.
So how does football actually work in the world’s most secretive country?
Why are English Premier League matches shown – but delayed by months and cut down to 60 minutes? Is it really possible to groundhop in Pyongyang? And how have North Korea’s women become one of the strongest forces in football – especially at youth level?
Join us for all the answers in this episode, in which we also tell the story of the Colombian club totally transformed under Wrexham’s Hollywood owners and unveil our first-ever merch: The Sweeper Podcast football shirts.
BUY THE SHIRTS: https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast
Get £6 off with Patreon: https://patreon.com/sweeperpod

Chapters
00:00 – Intro
01:25 – The DPRK Premier League
05:41 – Bizarre North Korean broadcasts
09:08 – Groundhopping in Pyongyang
13:43 – Unrivalled success at youth level
18:40 – Wrexham's Hollywood duo in Colombia
26:32 – The Sweeper's football shirts