

World Football
BBC World Service
Original football stories and interviews from around the globe.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 2020 • 26min
Rock bottom and 30 years without a win
The former Leicester and Sunderland winger Matt Piper opens up about how his life spiralled out of control after injuries forced him to retire at just 24. Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O’Reilly discuss the big-name signings that have joined the Women's Super League in England this season.
And we speak to San Marino midfielder, Alessandro Golinucci, as the team continue to search for the country‘s first competitive win. Photo: Millwall's Tim Cahill fights for the ball with Sunderland's Matt Piper during their FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in 2004.
Credit: Paul Barker/AFP via Getty Images.

Aug 27, 2020 • 26min
Messi moving, the Jacob Blake boycotts and Hiddink's Curacao
Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly reflect on Lionel Messi's decision to leave Barcelona with Gaston Recondo, who was one of the journalists to break the news in Argentina.With Major League Soccer joining Basketball and Tennis in calling off matches in solidarity with anti-racism protests in the USA, we hear from Colorado Rapids forward Kei Kamara and discuss the social consciousness in American sports.And we'll hear why Curacao's footballers are dreaming of reaching the World Cup with former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink at the helm, from possibly the country's most-capped player, Gevaro Nepomuceno.Photo: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected after Barcelona's 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
Credit: Manu Fernandez/Pool/Getty Images

Aug 20, 2020 • 34min
Looking ahead to the UEFA Champions League final
Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly preview the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich. We also hear from the former Stuttgart and RB Leipzig coach Alex Zorniger who discusses the unstoppable rise of German coaches.Picture: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Olympique Lyonnais (Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)

Aug 13, 2020 • 30min
How to run a football club during a pandemic
Lille owner Gerard Lopez gives an insight into the challenges of running a football club and outlines his vision for how to compete with Europe's biggest teams. We also hear from a history-making African coach, as he prepares his team for the European Champions League. Presented by John Bennett, Pat Nevin and Alicia Ferguson.Picture: The owner of Lille Gerard Lopez during a team presentation prior to a pre-season friendly in France (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Aug 6, 2020 • 30min
Five minutes from Death. A Footballer in Beirut
Lebanon international Edmond Chehade tells us how he was caught in the blast that rocked Beirut. We also hear from his team-mate Omar Buigel. Also on the show, Tony Dorigo recalls stories from his Torino days.Picture: The Lebanese flag sits on the rubble in Beirut, in the aftermath of a massive explosion in the city. (PATRICK BAZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Jul 30, 2020 • 30min
The return of Ricky van Wolfswinkel and the misunderstood Nicolas Anelka
Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel discusses his return to football after brain surgery. And the former France and Real Madrid player Nicolas Anelka looks back on his career.Picture: Ricky van Wolfswinkel of FC Basel celebrates victory against Vitesse Arnhem (Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Jul 23, 2020 • 30min
Başakşehir win the Turkish League and Remembering Biri Biri
Swiss midfielder Gökhan İnler talks about winning the Turkish title with Başakşehir. And the Gambia captain, Pa Modou Jagne, pays tribute to his country’s greatest ever player, Biri Biri.Picture: Players celebrate as Basaksehir clinch their first ever Turkish Super Lig title (Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).

Jul 16, 2020 • 38min
Jay Bothroyd, the J-League and playing with Gaddafi
Footballer Jay Bothroyd tells stories from his time in Italy and Japan. Coach Carrie Taylor tells us why she quit San Diego Loyal after just two games. And Chris Hughton pays tribute to his former manager Jack Charlton.Picture: Jay Bothroyd of Consadole Sapporo paying against Kawasaki Frontale (Masashi Hara/Getty Images)

Jul 9, 2020 • 31min
MLS is back, chaos in Melbourne and an unstoppable Faroese
D.C. United coach Ben Olsen talks about the return of soccer in the USA. Melbourne City's French midfielder Florin Berenguer discusses his club's efforts to get out of Melbourne before shutdown. And we hear from a 61 year old footballer from the Faroe Islands.

Jul 2, 2020 • 26min
Tough times in Colombia and Brazil
Goalkeeper Vanessa Cordoba discusses the frustrations of being a female footballer in Colombia. We're in Brazil to find out more about the controversial decision to resume football. And we pay tribute to the only Iraqi to score at a World Cup, Ahmed Radhi.(Picture: Colombian players watch the penalty shoot-out against Argentina during the 2019 Pan-American Games by CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)


