The Athletic FC Podcast

Following Australia's withdrawal to host the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has been left as the sole bidder to stage world football's showpiece event.Matt Slater and Adam Crafton join Ayo Akinwolere to analyse how Saudi Arabia became the only bidder for the tournament, what benefit the Gulf state hosting the tournament brings to FIFA and the impact it could have on the wider football world.Plus the panel debate the discussion around Human Rights, following the scrutiny the Qatar World Cup came under, before debating the impact it could have for the Saudi Pro League over the next 11 years before the tournament is played.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last season in the Premier League it felt like there was a manager being sacked every week. This season, it feels like the writing’s on the wall for a few struggling clubs already...So is it a surprise that no head coaches have paid the price. And will November once again prove to be the start of 'sacking season'?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by he Athletic’s Dom Fifiled, Duncan Alexander & Jay Harris to discuss.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Real Madrid about to leave Barcelona behind, both on and off the pitch?After losing Saturday’s El Clasico and then seeing Lionel Messi collect a record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or, you can bet there were a few people at Barcelona, hankering for the old days..Add to that, Jude Bellingham’s goals, and last night’s Kopa Trophy win — the award for the best under-21 player - it's clear Real Madrid are looking towards the future.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Barcelona writer Pol Ballus, Spanish football editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero & tactics writer Michael Cox…Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Old Trafford yesterday Manchester City proved once again they are levels above Manchester United.How much is Erik ten Hag to blame and is he right to say United are still moving in the right direction after being outclassed by City?Or with all the turmoil off pitch going on, at one of the worlds biggest clubs, does he simply have an impossible job?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton and Dan Sheldon.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Spiers, in for Adam Leventhal, hosts Jon Mackenzie, Reuben Pinder, and Omar Garrick for our weekly preview of the Premier League.Matchday 10 welcomes the Manchester derby, with United welcoming their City rivals to Old Trafford. Can United repeat their 2-1 victory from last season or will City continue to expose some of their neighbour's flaws?Elsewhere there's a West London derby as Chelsea welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge. The Blues once again impressed without winning last time out versus Arsenal, leaving our panel wondering if their results will ever catch up to their performances.And in the race to the bottom, Bournemouth take on Burnley - could a poor result either way spell the end of Andoni Iraola or Vincent Kompany's managerial reign at their respective clubs? Produced by John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two months on from his last appearance for Manchester United, Jadon Sancho seems no close to a first team return.The Athletic's Manchester United writers Laurie Whitwell and Carl Anka join Ayo Akinwolere to explain and analyse Sancho's ongoing exile with the 23-year-old currently banished from all first team involvement.As well as looking into the public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag the panel discuss where things had already been going wrong for the England international at Old Trafford before assessing what comes next ahead of the January transfer window opening.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Anfield in the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield required a full-scale re-build - with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at the heart of it.The 23-year-old is the only Liverpool outfielder to have played in all 810 minutes of the Premier League campaign so far, and is already a fan-favourite on Merseyside.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein, data writer Mark Carey and Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap, to assess the his 'transformative' impact, changing role in Klopp's team and whether comparisons to club legend Steven Gerrard are worthy.Produced by Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night, Tottenham went two points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to goals from Maddison and captain, Son Heung-min.Michael Bailey is joined by Charlie Eccleshare and Adam Crafton to discuss whether Spurs are title contenders or if their incredible early season form is unsustainable?Plus, Liam Tharme shares his thoughts on how Son has adapted to the No.9 role and filled the goals void left by Kane, and the panel ask whether Ange Postecoglou deserves more respect?Produced by Jay Beale and Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of his first anniversary as Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has Villa within striking distance of the top of the Premier League.Having returned to English football last season, following an ill-fated 18 month spell at Arsenal, Michael Bailey is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Gregg Evans to analyse the Spaniard's resurgence in the West Midlands.Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell shares his take on Villa's start to the season, their best season 1998/99, while Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas reviews his time in North London before assessing how he feels seeing Emery thrive at Villa Park.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides**• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal returns to preview Premier League matchday nine.The weekend starts with a Merseyside derby at Anfield. With only one win against Liverpool since 2010, can Sean Dyche’s team take advantage of Liverpool’s dodgy form in early kickoffs?Then we’re off to Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea host Arsenal. With Arsenal’s recent dominance we ask if the title of ‘biggest club in London’ has swung back to North London.And Man City host Brighton on the back of a blip, with three losses in the last four games. Will they right the ship, or can the Seagulls add to their misery?Adam Leventhal hosts Jay Harris, Tim Spiers and Luke Bosher.Producer - John Rogers***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.