

World Football
BBC World Service
Original football stories and interviews from around the globe.
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Jul 3, 2025 • 20min
Just eight teams left in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Mani Djazmi is joined by Eduardo Alvarez to look back on the Club World Cup so far - analysing the performances of Manchester City, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian clubs – and assessing just how much of a shock was provided by Al-Hilal as they beat Manchester City.They discuss the issues the tournament has faced and also look ahead to the quarter-final ties and plot a path to glory for one of them.PHOTO: ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JUNE 30: Ruben Neves of Al Hilal celebrates after the win at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Manchester City and Al-Hilal at Camping World Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Jul 2, 2025 • 12min
Denmark twins Karen and Sara Holmgaard are ready for a special EURO 2025
World Football meets identical twins Karen and Sara Holmgaard, who are both in Denmark’s squad for Euro 2025. They tell John Bennett that going to Switzerland as a pair is special and that it’s a dream to play together, after Karen missed the 2023 World Cup through injury. They also discuss the influence Pernille Harder has on Denmark’s squad and their hopes for the tournament.The twins spent last season playing for Everton and discuss how they feel, following the announcement Sara is leaving the club for Real Madrid. PHOTO: HELSINGOR, DENMARK - JUNE 21: (L-R) Sara Holmgaard and Karen Holmgaard of Denmark pose for a portrait during the official UEFA Women's EURO 2022 portrait session on June 21, 2022 in Helsingor, Denmark. (Photo by Oliver Hardt - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Jun 30, 2025 • 25min
Euro 2025: Made in Switzerland
Sophia Hartley looks ahead to UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 and the country at the heart of Europe hosting this year’s tournament, Switzerland. With access inside the Swiss camp and a seat at the table with UEFA Head of Women’s Football Nadine Kessler, World football explores what people can expect from the hosts, their chances in the tournament and what legacy they hope to create. You’ll also hear from Swiss Captain Lia Walti and Head Coach Pia Sundhage as well as Swiss-German football journalist Helene Altgelt.Photo: Switzerland's forward #7 Riola Xhemaili celebrates scoring her team's first goal during an international women's friendly football match between Switzerland and Czech Republic, ahead of the Women Euro 2025 tournament, at stadium Schuetzenwiese in Winterthur, on June 26, 2025. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Jun 29, 2025 • 39min
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Preview
The build up is well under way ahead of the 15th Women's Africa Cup of Nations.The tournament is taking place in Morocco with 12 teams are taking part including the holders South Africa.Delyth Lloyd is joined by World Football’s Maz Farookhi as well as the former Nigeria goalkeeper Rachael Ayegba and South African football journalist Busisiwe Mokwena as they discuss the big talking points.You’ll also hear from Nigerian superstar Asisat Oshoala and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.

Jun 17, 2025 • 8min
Can African teams make an impression at the Club World Cup?
Many of the world’s biggest clubs are playing in the Club World Cup in the United States, but does the expanded, new look tournament give the African sides a chance to make an impression?Egypt's Al Ahly, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco and Tunisia's Esperance are the teams looking to outperform European superclubs and other contenders from across the globe.Hear from former South Africa defender Mark Fish and South African football journalist Mo Allie on Sundowns chances.Image: Photos of the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final between Al Ahly of Egypt and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, which ends in a 1-1 draw for Sundowns in Cairo, Egypt, on April 25, 2025. (Photo by Mohsen Nabil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jun 13, 2025 • 17min
What can we expect from the Club World Cup?
Ahead of the newly expanded Club World Cup, World Football’s Mani Djazmi is joined by Spanish football journalist Eduardo Alvarez to look ahead to the tournament taking place in the United States.Thirty-two teams from around the globe will take part in the tournament across 11 cities in the US, with the final taking place on 13 July.Plus, we also hear from striker Angus Kilkolly who plays for the tournament’s only amateurs, Auckland City.Photo: General view of the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy in exposition at Estadio da Luz during the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy Tour on January 17, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)

Jun 11, 2025 • 14min
What next for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT?
With a year to go until they co-host the World Cup, the USA men's national team are on a run of 4 defeats in a row. So after his high-profile appointment in 2024, how much pressure is head coach Mauricio Pochettino under? And can USA find form before they co-host the World Cup in 2026 with Canada and Mexico.World Football's John Bennett is joined by former MLS player and current CBS analyst Michael Lahoud, as well as US football writer Zach Lowy. Plus hear from Pochettino and the former USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann.Photo: USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino observing his players during a Concacaf Nations League game between Canada and USMNT at SoFi Stadium at on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Credit: ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Jun 10, 2025 • 22min
The struggle for Iranian women to attend football matches - 20 years on
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the start of a campaign for female football fans in Iran to be allowed in to stadia to watch men’s matches.On the 8th June 2005 Iran’s men’s team played their final World Cup qualification match against Bahrain. A group of women went to the Azadi stadium to reclaim what they had lost after the 1979 revolution, including the right to go to stadiums and watch football.So what impact did the events of that day have on football in Iran? World Football's Mani Djazmi has been across the story.Photo: Players of Iran celebrate after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A game between Iran and Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. Iran's national football team celebrated after securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan. (Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Jun 6, 2025 • 9min
History made: Debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan celebrate World Cup places
Uzbekistan and Jordan have qualified for the men’s Fifa World Cup for the first time, but what’s the reaction been like and how significant is it for the two countries?World Football’s Isaac Fanin spoke to BBC journalists Khaldoon Alshamayleh in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and Firdavs Zavkiev in the Uzbek capital Tashkent to gauge the reaction.South Korea also secured their place at the tournament with 10 countries now confirmed for the expanded 48-team tournament in United States, Canada and Mexico.The three hosts have qualified automatically, while Japan, New Zealand, Iran and Argentina have also confirmed their spots.Image: Uzbekistan's players celebrate after their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier football match against the United Arab Emirates ended in a draw, qualifying them for the World Cup for the first time, at Al-Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on June 5, 2025. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)

Jun 3, 2025 • 47min
Australia to Argentina: Premier League fans' review of the season
As well as the big name players and coaches we hear from here on World Football, we also want to hear from you, the fans.
During the English Premier League season on our Sportsworld programme we've been speaking to supporters from around the world in our international fans panel to gauge what they've been making of their clubs fortunes
From Germany to Ghana and Argentina to Australia, we've covered the globe.
Along with World Football's own Mani Djazmi, we’ve been catching up with some of those supporters to review the season.
Photo: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool lifts the trophy after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Credit: Getty Images for The Premier League)