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The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

Lee Wingate and Paul Watson 114 Episodes Oct 22, 2026

The Sweeper Podcast explores the most extraordinary stories from across the football world, covering everything from the World Cup and Champions League to obscure competitions. Expert journalists Lee Wingate and Paul Watson delve into the intersection of football, travel, geography, geopolitics, history, and culture. The podcast aims to uncover hidden stories of the global game beyond the Premier League and big-league European football. New episodes are released every Tuesday, with bonus content on Patreon.

Episodes

Why Europe’s two eligible countries choose not to join UEFA | Monaco & Vatican City
Why Europe’s two eligible countries choose not to join UEFA | Monaco & Vatican City Oct 22, 2026 1382 UEFA has not added to its 55 members in a decade – the longest time between new additions since San Marino joined in 1988 – though it has not been for a lack of trying. Greenland have been desperate for competitive football and Jersey have even taken their case to court, but are both regarded as ineligible. Meanwhile, the two countries that do fulfil the current criteria – Monaco and Vatican Ci
What if Bolivia hosted the World Cup? (At 4,000 metres altitude!)
What if Bolivia hosted the World Cup? (At 4,000 metres altitude!) Oct 20, 2026 1742 By 2030, half of CONMEBOL’s 10 members will have hosted a World Cup match. But the likes of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are unlikely to ever follow suit – in large part due to altitude. Bolivia are the absolute kings of elevation, boasting the highest-altitude international stadium in the world (the Estadio Municipal de El Alto, which sits 4,088 metres above sea level) and frequently making mince
B-teams in La Liga 2: Problem or catalyst for Spain’s 2026 World Cup win?
B-teams in La Liga 2: Problem or catalyst for Spain’s 2026 World Cup win? Oct 16, 2026 1794 Real Sociedad were in action in Vigo last weekend – not in La Liga but in La Liga 2, in what is currently the only fixture between two B-teams in Spain’s second tier. The presence of reserve teams has long been a source of fierce discussion and debate within Spanish football, which remains deeply divided over their inclusion. So what are the pros and cons of integrating B-teams into the nati
How Albanian giants Skenderbeu earned UEFA’s longest-ever ban (10 years!!!)
How Albanian giants Skenderbeu earned UEFA’s longest-ever ban (10 years!!!) Oct 14, 2026 1871 Almost a decade ago, a scandal shook Albanian football as Skenderbeu were found guilty of match-fixing on an unprecedented scale and banned by UEFA for 10 years. It is the longest ban in European football history, but Albania’s eight-time national champions could return to the continental stage next season if they finish high enough this term. So what exactly did Skenderbeu do to make Manche
How Hispaniola’s first football derby in 13 years sparked a diplomatic backlash
How Hispaniola’s first football derby in 13 years sparked a diplomatic backlash Oct 8, 2026 1550 Relations on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east, are already fraught enough. But tensions were ramped up even further last week by the events that unfolded at the first football match between the countries in 13 years. So why is the geopolitical situation on Hispaniola unlike almost anywhere else in the world? What
India & China: Why the world’s two largest countries are football's biggest underachievers
India & China: Why the world’s two largest countries are football's biggest underachievers Oct 6, 2026 1512 With a combined 2.9 billion inhabitants, India and China are the world’s largest countries. Yet both of them underachieve spectacularly when it comes to international football. The two Asian nations have made just one World Cup appearance between them and have consistently come up short at continental level as well. So what are the reasons behind India and China’s international soccer strugg
Why UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel in draws – and could that change?
Why UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel in draws – and could that change? Oct 1, 2026 1322 Ireland last year joined Türkiye and Norway in calling for the suspension of Israel’s UEFA membership for what the United Nations has termed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Nations League draw in February 2026 then pitted the two countries against each other, leading to the emergence of a ‘Stop the Game’ movement in Ireland and a request from the FAI for UEFA to keep them apart in fu
What are the world’s biggest leagues that don't stop for the international break?
What are the world’s biggest leagues that don't stop for the international break? Sep 29, 2026 1248 Die-hard club football fans love to grumble about the international window, especially now that it has been extended as part of FIFA’s new-look calendar. But it is a myth that top-flight club football completely ceases during international windows. We know because we’ve been poring over the league of all 211 FIFA members! So which countries don’t actually have a football league to speak of
Why South Korea’s military club Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated (even if they finish top)
Why South Korea’s military club Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated (even if they finish top) Sep 25, 2026 1578 South Korea’s Gimcheon Sangmu are one of the most curious clubs in world football, with players only allowed to stay for 18 months while they complete their military service. They also cannot play in AFC competitions and are 100% certain to be relegated from the K-League this season, even if they were to finish top of the table. So are the players footballers, soldiers or both? Is it actuall
How does Portugal’s geography & history explain the big three | Benfica, Sporting & Porto
How does Portugal’s geography & history explain the big three | Benfica, Sporting & Porto Sep 22, 2026 1408 There have been 92 editions of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to date. Only two of them have been won by clubs other than Benfica, Sporting and Porto. A whopping 95% of football fans in Portugal support the big three – a share that even dwarves the share of national support for the big three in Türkiye and the Netherlands. So how have the trio established such a fierce grip on the domestic gam
Ugandan king? Why a 9th-tier goalkeeper turned down the throne
Ugandan king? Why a 9th-tier goalkeeper turned down the throne Sep 17, 2026 1550 There is a lot to love about the English non-leagues, but it will be hard to top the sensational story that emerged about SE Dons goalie George Desmond Kamurasi last week. The 36-year-old, who plies his trade in England’s ninth tier, has been chosen to be the next king of the Tooro people, one of the four traditional kingdoms in Uganda, following the death of his cousin, King Oyo, in late Augus
What if the English FA Cup included British Overseas Territories?
What if the English FA Cup included British Overseas Territories? Sep 15, 2026 1591 The English FA Cup is the oldest and most storied domestic football competition in the world. But it is not the most inclusive. The Coupe de France comfortably takes that title. The tournament not only has 7,000+ participants, but also invites teams from French overseas territories, creating special experiences and mammoth away days for those involved. We have often wondered what the FA Cup wou

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