The FootPol Podcast
Episodes
Sacred Grounds: People's Football in India ft. Sandeep Menon
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week's FootPol Podcast episode explores Indian football as a political and social phenomenon rather than simply a sport. Joining co-hosts Gu...
Insta‑FootPol. AFCON Fallout, Iran World Cup Participation and Iranian Women’s Asylum
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the FootPol Podcast's latest episode, Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton unpack the latest political storms that have shaken the football worl...
Staples, Satire and Protest: The Politics of Football Fanzines ft. Paddy Hoey
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Football fanzines were once the DIY voice of supporters in Britain — photocopied, stapled together, and sold outside stadiums by fans who wanted to ...
Insta-FootPol. The US-Israel War with Iran and the 2026 World Cup
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this special FootPol Podcast episode, co-hosts Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton confront the explosive intersection of geopolitics and sport as t...
2026 World Cup Debutants: Uniting the Islands — Cabo Verde ft. Emmanuel Charles D’Oliveira & Nuno Domingos
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The FootPol Podcast has reached 100 episodes! To mark this special occasion, we return to this season's World Cup debutants series, this time fo...
Breaking Barriers: Women’s Football Across the Middle East ft. Assile Toufailly
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Women’s football in the Middle East and North Africa is changing fast — but unevenly. In this 99th episode of the FootPol Podcast, co-hosts France...
Carnival or Control? Politics and the 2026 World Cup ft. Pete Watson & Roger Magazine
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, how will geopolitics, migration policy and fan culture shape the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Can...
Grassroots, Growth and the Game: Football in New Zealand ft. CJ Price
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of FootPol, Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton are joined by CJ Price, Director of Football at Palmerston North Marist FC, for a deep ...
How the Football Association Took Over the Women's Game ft. Rafaelle Nicholson
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What really happened when the FA took over women’s football in 1993 – and why does it still matter today?In this first episode of 2026, co-hosts F...
From College to the Pros: Power and Pathways in Women’s Football ft. Sydney Minarik
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the year comes to a close, FootPol examines what it really takes to build a career in women’s football — and how politics, policy and power sha...
2026 World Cup Debutants: Uzbekistan’s Rise from Soviet Shadows
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last Friday's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC kicks off a new mini-series running on the FootPol Podcast this season, about debutant nations...
Football in a state of emergency ft. David Goldblatt
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historian and sociologist of football David Goldblatt is back on the podcast to talk to hosts Guy and Francesco about his latest book 'Injury Tim...
How Football Sells Its History: Stadium Tourism and Identity ft. Felipe Tobar
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The FootPol Podcast, we explore the booming world of football tourism, stadium tours, and club museums with expert Felipe Bertazzo Tobar ...
Fueling or burning the game? Football clubs, fans and energy companies ft. Leslie Mabon
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest FootPol Podcast episode, Leslie Mabon, senior lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University discusses how football’s deep t...
African Fans, European Dreams ft. Manase Chinwesha and Solomon Waliaula
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do millions of Africans passionately support European football clubs they’ve never seen in person? This episode addresses this question in Manas...
Pride in the Game: LGBTQ+ Football Culture ft. Rory Magrath
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the FootPol Podcast, Rory Magrath of Southampton Solent University joins co-host Guy to unpack LGBTQ+ issues in football. From the late a...
Season 3 Opener: Israel, Women’s Football, FIFA and Saudi Power Plays
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FootPol is back for a brand new season — and we’re hitting the ground running. In this season opener, we recap the biggest political battles shapi...
Full-Time Whistle: The Season 2 Finale!
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the last episode of the seasone, co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on a great second season of FootPol, and pick apart some of the main themes fro...
Football in a Time of War: Gaza, Iran, Sudan & DR Congo
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The FootPol Podcast, Guy and Francesco explore how war is disrupting football in 2025, focusing on conflicts that are ongoing or es...
Class Act: Football and the English Working Class ft. Josh Bland
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Josh Bland, a research student at the University of Cambridge, to explore the enduring and evolving relatio...
When Goals Don't Matter: Gals FC ft. Nora Beqaj
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Francesco and Guy speak to Nora Beqaj, co-founder of Gals FC, football's community of non-competitive football for women and non...
Did Spain's World Cup win change society? ft. Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and AnÃbal Mesa López
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Spanish scholars Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and AnÃbal Mesa López to explore the remarkable rise of women’...
The Club World Cup and Women’s Euros and What’s at Stake
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This summer brings two major football tournaments into the spotlight: the Club World Cup and the Women’s Euros. In this episode, Francesco and Guy u...
Rage Sport: People's sportswear against fascism (English edition)
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special double episode, Francesco interviews Maurizio Affuso, founder of Rage Sport, sportswear brand that dresses 'sport popolare' ...
Rage Sport: sport popolare, solidale e antifascista (edizione italiana)
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In questo doppio episodio speciale italiano/inglese, Francesco intervista Maurizio Affuso, fondatore di Rage Sport, marchio d'abbigliamento che...
Inside Indonesia's Football and Politics ft. Andy Fuller
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with researcher, publisher and podcaster Andy Fuller—the mind behind Reading Sideways Press and Everyday Runners...
Pitching Ambition: The Rise and Risk of Non-League Football ft. Paul Caulfield
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals putting non-league football in the national spotlight at Wembley on Sunday 11 May—including a nail-biting outi...
Small Nation, Giant Game: Uruguay’s Football Story ft. Will Huddleston
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Will Huddleston, who recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the early globa...
Football and identity in the MENA region ft. the SEPAD research group
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Francesco switches seats—co-hosting and guesting—as he and Guy dive into a lively discussion about football in and from the Middle East...
Pasión, Politics & the Pitch: Spain's Football Journey ft. Miguel Lourenço Pereira
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Guy and Francesco welcome back friend of the pod Miguel Lourenço Pereira to talk about his new book Pasión: A Journey to the Soul o...
From community to climate justice. Bohemian FC ft. Sean McCabe
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Sean McCabe, Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability at Bohemian FC - a member-owned football club since...
Kicking Down Barriers: Building Inclusivity through Football ft. Charl Galloway
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Guy and Francesco discuss football activism with Charl Galloway, a consultant specializing in women's football and inclusive sports spa...
Flying the Flag: The women who played football abroad ft. Carrie Dunn
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Carrie Dunn, a journalist, academic and good friend of the podcast talks to Francesco and Guy about her latest book,'Flying the Flag.&a...
The Politics of FIFA's 2030 World Cup ft. Leslie Mabon
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did FIFA award the 2030 World Cup to six countries across three continents—Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco? What poli...
The Drama of Greek Football ft. Theofilos Pouliopoulos
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
 This week, Guy speaks with Theofilos Pouliopoulos, a project manager and sports consultant with deep expertise in Greek football. Theo unpacks the s...
Are football styles and tactics political? ft. Jonathan Wilson
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Guy and Francesco sit down with football author and journalist Jonathan Wilson—Guardian columnist, Football Weekly contributor, editor of...
The German Football Model: Politics, Fans, and the 50+1 Rule ft. Danyel Reiche
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Danyel Reiche of Georgetown University Qatar about the German football model and more broadly ab...
Football's new home? The beautiful game in the Gulf ft. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How is football being used as a tool of power and influence in the Gulf? This week, Guy and Francesco sit down with Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a schol...
Playing for equality: Lewes FC ft. Joe Short
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Joe Short, a director at Lewes FC, to explore what makes this fan-owned club truly unique. Lewes F...
The Beautiful Game in Troubled Times: Iraq’s Football Saga ft. Hassanane Balal
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week co-hosts Francesco and Guy talk to Hassanane Balal, host and founder of the Iraqi Football Podcast. Hassanane explains how sport and politic...
The Dragon's Kick: Football and Politics in Hong Kong and China ft. Chun Wing Lee
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Guy and Francesco talk to Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Chun Wing Lee about the game in Hong Kong and China. Wing Lee recounts how th...
Socialist soccer? The beautiful game in the USSR and after its collapse ft. Yacov Zohn
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Yacov Zohn, a PhD candidate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to explore the fascinating hi...
Two Koreas, Two Goals: The Politics of Football ft. Jung-Woo Lee
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Jung-Woo Lee from Edinburgh University to explore the fascinating intersection of football and politics in ...
What may be football's political battle grounds in 2025?
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on the political stories that shaped football in 2024 and those likely to dominate 2025. Francesco highlights the I...
FIFA's 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia ft. Aziz Alghashian and Stephen Cockburn
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
FIFA has officially awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, sparking debate among football fans and observers worldwide. In this episode, co-hosts...
The Politics of Data in Football ft. Daniel Memmert
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the show, Guy is joined by Professor Daniel Memmer, a leading expert from the German Sport Institute in Cologne. Together, they dive deep...
British history, social changes and football ft. David Kynaston
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week’s episode, hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with renowned social historian David Kynaston to explore the relationship between football ...
Power to the fans. The Exeter City FC story
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
20 years ago, Exeter City FC were in debt and at risk of disappearing. Their fans however did not accept losing their beloved club, so they stepped in...
FootPol special: Amsterdam's long night.
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Guy and Francesco look at the violent incidents surrounding the Ajax vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match on November 7 and break down the Amsterdam ma...
What is e-football and how is it political? ft. Tsubasa Shinohara
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Guy and Francesco tackle the world of e-football—a digital space where traditional sports and gaming intersect, creating unique pol...
Can Racism Be Kicked Out of Football? ft. Christos Kassimeris
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Professor Christos Kassimeris, a leading expert on racism in football. Together, they explore the r...
No Foreign Game. Politics and Football in Ireland ft. James Quinn
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did football get to the island of Ireland? And is it a 'foreign' game? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco are joined by histori...
Can fan culture become more inclusive? The case of Wales ft. Penny Miles
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Guy and Francesco dive into the world of away fandom, focusing on the experiences of female and LGBTQ+ supporters. Joining them is Penny Mile...
Football and Politics in Switzerland ft. Christian Koller
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco explore the fascinating history of Swiss football with Zurich University's Professor Christian Koller...
When FIFA Went Global ft. Luiz Guilherme Burlamaqui
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the sport institution that controls and regulates the world's most popular game...
The origins of the beautiful game ft. Chris Lee
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did football - a game played by upper class gentlemen in Britain - become the world's most popular sport? How did it shift to becoming a game...
Why do football clubs collapse? ft. Football Heritage's Rory Bryce
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Exciting news this week as Football Heritage podcast host Rory Bryce joins Guy and Francesco to discuss the decline and disappearance of football club...
FootPol Returns! Season Two Opener
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to the second season of the FootPol Podcast! This week, we dive into the latest political news in Football World. FIFA's recent non-...
Insta-FootPol. Political Fallout! Euros, Copa America and Israel/FIFA Edition
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back (briefly) from our summer break! Co-hosts Guy and Francesco break down the politics that's making the headlines in the wake of Sp...
Can Football Ever Come Home? Nostalgia, melancholia and the beautiful game ft. Jack Black
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How are nostalgia and melancholia connected to football? And are they 'political'? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Sheff...
Tales of South American football ft. Jorge Knijnik
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football plays a central role in many Latin American countries. In this episode, co-hosts Francesco and Guy talk with Jorge Knijnik, Associate Profess...
Football and the British Election ft. Co-Host Christina Philippou and Fair Game's Mike Baker
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does the general election in the UK mean for football? In this episode, one of the FootPol Podcast's favourite guests, Dr Christina Philippo...
The Politics of Maradona Part 2: Diego and the City of Naples ft. Luca Bifulco
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest talent ever to grace a football pitch, played for several clubs as well as the Argentinian national team. His im...
The Politics of Maradona Part 1: Diego as a Global Icon ft. Mariano Paz
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No other football player has been as popular and yet also divisive as Diego Armando Maradona. Few footballers can claim to have achieved the status ...
What's Coming Up in 2024's 'Summer of Sport'? ft. Nicola Sbetti.
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're about to enter what has been dubbed the 'Summer of Sport' given the number of high-profile events taking place, from the Euros to...
Ukraine's football under the Russian shadow ft. Olga Ruzhelnyk
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ukraine is a country with a long and rich football tradition. Yet football, like all aspects of life, have been deeply affected by the Russian aggress...
'More than a club, a whole people'. Deportivo Palestino ft. Jose Nabzo and Siri Schwabe
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football clubs often represents different identities: local, political, ethnic and sectarian. Deportivo Palestino, a football club in Chile, is distin...
How is climate change affecting football? ft. Leslie Mabon.
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The impact of climate change on football has frequently been in the news in recent years. The relationship between the beautiful game and the environm...
Israel's War on Gaza and Palestinian Football ft. Karim Zidan and Kat Pijetlovic
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amidst the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza, football might seem a secondary and even irrelevant aspect. Yet football offers a ghastly testimony of the ...
Match fit. Mental health and football ft. Johnnie Lowery
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mental health is a growing issue in football but suffers from being seen as a taboo subject. Co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to writer Johnnie Lower...
Unsafe bet? The politics of gambling in football ft. Steve Menary
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football has a gambling problem. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to award winning investigative journalist Steve Menary about the gro...
Fan activism and gender politics in Brazil ft. Luisa Turbino Torres
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brazilian football is famous for its noisy and passionate supporters. But Brazilian football fans are not only passionate, they also have a long tradi...
"Bring me that horizon". The politics of Portuguese football ft. Miguel Lourenço Pereira
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How much does the geography and politics of a country influence the development of its football culture? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco ta...
What is political in modern football? ft. Cas Mudde
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes modern football political? And what is the role of football in civil society? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Cas Mudde...
From the boardrooms to government: the politics of football in Thailand ft. Arjin Thongyuukong and Matt Riley
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How entwined is football and politics in Thailand? Guy and Francesco talk to Thai scholar Arjin Thongyuukong and UK journalist Matt Riley about the or...
"If he scores another few, then I'll be Muslim too!" The politics of Liverpool's Salah ft. Salma Mousa
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Footballers are global icons, and Mo Salah is probably the most famous Arab and Muslim one today. But does Salah's popularity affect the way that...
Insta-FootPol. What's up with England's new football shirt? ft. Alex Ireland
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this brand new bonus edition format, Guy and Francesco explore topical issues around football that have a political dimension with the help of an e...
Football, communities and inclusivity ft. Fulham Lillies and New York International FC
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can football be more inclusive and embrace groups that have traditionally been left out from the game? In our latest episode, Guy and Francesco learn ...
The Elephant on the Pitch: Football in India ft. Siddhanth Aney and Siju Mathew
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most people associate India with cricket. And yet the country has a long and rich history with football, based mainly in India's periphery rather...
Smashing the glass ceiling. Football, media and activism ft. Shireen Ahmed and guest co-host Eugenio Giovagnoli
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Co-host Francesco is joined by a guest co-host Eugenio Giovagnoli to talk to Canadian sports journalist and activist, Shireen Ahmed. Shireen has been ...
¡Que viva Colombia! Football, nation building and identity in the Andean country ft Pete Watson
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football is a powerful tool in fragmented societies, none more so than Colombia. In this episode, Pete Watson of Leeds University explains to co-hosts...
An unequal game? Football, race and education ft. Paul Campbell
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It is often said that football reflects the societies where we live. So what does football tell us about race and education? In this episode co-hosts ...
Football for everyone! A journey on the margins of the beautiful game ft. Paul Watson
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football is by far the most popular sport in the world, making it "the world's game". And yet there some countries in the world that do...
Fighting for footballers' labour rights ft. FIFPRO's Alexander Bielefeld and Alex Culvin
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought of Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as workers? Probably not! And yet for global stars as for lower level professional footballers...
Football's next big thing? The European SuperLeague ft. Anthony Macedo
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of a European Super League that would see top European clubs regularly compete against each other has bee in the news again in recent months,...
God's own game? Football and Islam ft. Valentina Fedele
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do religions and particularly Islam have a view on football? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Valentina Fedele, Associate Professor ...
'Sing louder if you want a revolution'. The politics of football ultras ft. James Montague
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football fans are often at the centre of media and public opinion attention: condemned as violent and anti-social or applauded for their contribution ...
Football against fascism ft Chris Lee
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Football has been used by both politicians as well as fans to advance their own interests. How have fascist and right-wing political leaders and regim...
Cursed or blessed by talent? Football in West Africa (and some AFCON predictions!) - ft Gary Al-Smith
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
West Africa is the home of exceptional footballing talent. In our latest episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Ghanian journalist Gary Al-Smith ...
Are we living through a golden era of football diplomacy? ft Heather Dichter
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the use of football in diplomacy a modern phenomenon? Or has sport always been used as a diplomatic tool? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Frances...
Remembering Pele: Race and football in Brazil ft Ana Paula da Silva
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
December 29 marks the first anniversary of Pele's death. As one of the world's greatest football players, Pele's impact goes beyond the...
A mixed legacy? The Qatar World Cup one year on ft Stephen Cockburn
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What has been the impact of the Qatar World Cup? Has the tournament been a success for the organisers, and what is its legacy in terms of human and pa...
United or Divided? The politics of Belgian football ft Scott Coyne
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Belgium is known for its waffles, chocolates and beer. And arguably for its football. But what can the beautiful game tell us about the politics and h...
Why the Interest with Football in Saudi Arabia? ft Aziz Alghasian and Eyad Elrefai
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Football in Saudi Arabia has been the subject of a lot attention in the last year due to the purchase of high profile players by Saudi teams. But how ...
The ambassador's best friend? Football as a geopolitical tool ft Arthur Snell
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the world game, how do diplomats relate to football? And how is football being used by states around the world to advance their global interests an...
Passion, power and politics. The beautiful game in East Asia ft Seungbum Lee
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Japan's and South Korea's heroics at past World Cups to the advent of global stars from the region, East Asia has made a splash in worl...
Dress to impress, or dress to protest? The Politics of Football Shirts, ft. Alex Ireland
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the last few years, collecting football shirts has turned into a popular hobby for a growing number of fans. But are football kits only pretty pa...
English football and finance. Living on the edge? ft. Christina Philippou
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every football fan's worst nightmare is seeing their team go bust. But how likely is that to happen? While the English game has been able to attr...
Football, Society and the Environment, ft. David Goldblatt
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What can the beautiful game tell us about the society we live in? How is football and the football industry impacting the environment? In the episode ...
Why is there no British national football team? ft. Matt Taylor.
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the connection between national identity and the beautiful game? And why is there no British national football team? In this episode Guy and...