

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

Jun 2, 2025 • 55min
Eurostars pick their Euro stars
The UEFA Champions League final may be done meaning the dust settles on the top European leagues for a while at least. Delyth Lloyd is joined by World Football’s Mani Djazmi, German football writer Constantin Eckner and Spanish football expert Eduardo Alvarez to look back over all the big talking points from across Europe.From Serie A through to the Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1, our panel give their views on a momentous season.Photo: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates the La Liga EA Sports 2024/2025 championship during the La Liga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Olimpic Llus Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on May 18, 2025. (Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jun 1, 2025 • 26min
PSG make Champions League history against Inter
Paris St Germain wrote their names into the Champions League history books after beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final in Munich to win the trophy for the first time.World Football’s Delyth Lloyd is joined by Italian football journalist Daniele Verri and French broadcaster Patrick Juilliard to discuss the big talking points from the match.It brings to an end the finale of an expanded format introduced by UEFA which has seen a mammoth 189 matches since the main group stage began back in August.You’ll also hear from the PSG and Inter camps with their post-match thoughts.Photo: The Champions League trophy ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at on May 28, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

May 25, 2025 • 49min
The Miracle of Istanbul: 20 years since Liverpool's comeback Champions League win
2025 marks 20 years since of one of the most extraordinary nights in Champion League history, as Liverpool completed the "Miracle of Istanbul”.AC Milan had a star-studded line up and were overwhelming favourites, especially after they raced into a 3-0 lead. However, Liverpool launched an amazing second half comeback that culminated in them winning the trophy in a penalty shootout.To mark the 20th anniversary, we take you back to that iconic night with those who were there, including penalty-saving hero, Jerzy Dudek. Plus, broadcasters and fans, each with their own unique perspective on the moments that made the match the most talked-about for years.Photo: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard lifts the European Cup after Liverpool won the European Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan on May 25, 2005 at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. (Credit: Getty Images)

May 24, 2025 • 6min
Premier League 2025: End of season awards
There's 370 matches down and just ten to go in the Premier League seasonLiverpool will lift their 20th top flight title in Arne Slot's first year in charge, so as the season draws to a close Sportsworld and World Football have collaborated to hand out their own awards. So who will former West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and Washington Spirit and England international defender Esme Morgan pick as their winners of season 24-25?Photo: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and the players celebrate winning the league after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on April 27, 2025. (Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

May 22, 2025 • 15min
Ange Postecoglou: Australia’s path-finder
Ange Postecoglou is the first coach from outside Europe or South America to win a European trophy, but what does that achievement mean for Australian football?Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich and journalist Michael Lynch tell World Football's Mani Djazmi about the significance in the context of Australian sport, and chart Postecoglou’s rise from immigrant to European winner.Photo: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, celebrates with the UEFA Europa League trophy after his team's victory in the UEFA Europa League Final 2025 between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Estadio de San Mames on May 21, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. (Credit: UEFA via Getty Images)

May 21, 2025 • 12min
Could the German Bundesliga be about to welcome its smallest ever team?
SV Elversberg, from a small town of around 13,000 people, face Heidenheim in a promotion/relegation play-off. If they win – and most second-tier teams don’t – they will welcome Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and the rest to their stadium with a capacity of 10,000. The club’s Sporting Director, Nils Ole-Book, has been telling World Football's Mani Djazmi how they've gone from the fourth tier to the brink of the big time in just three years.Photo: Cornerflag of SV Elversberg in the Ursapharm-Arena Stadium before the Second Bundesliga match between SV 07 Elversberg and SC Preußen Münster at Ursapharm-Arena on March 15, 2025 in Spiesen-Elversberg, Germany. (Credit: firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

May 19, 2025 • 3min
Trailer: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team
Basketball, the Cold War, and rock band The Grateful Dead collide in this incredible true story. Presented by the late NBA star Bill Walton. Episodes weekly from 19 May.What do basketball, rock music, and tie-dye t-shirts have in common? And what about Mickey Hart, Sarunas Marciulionis, Arvydas Sabonis, and the US Dream Team? Well, they are all subject of the brand new season of Amazing Sport Stories: Bill Walton’s The Grateful Team.It’s Moscow, 1989, and Lithuanian basketball star Sarunas Marciulionis is walking nervously through the airport. If all goes to plan, a new life awaits playing basketball for the NBA in the US. But first, he must cross the Iron Curtain. Sarunas doesn’t yet know the incredible journey he is about to go on. One which will involve political upheaval, the Olympic games, the US rock band The Grateful Dead - and, of course, tie-dye. The late NBA star and sports commentator Bill Walton presents this extraordinary true story. Bill passed away in 2024, not long after recording the series, and his family have given permission for its release following his death. Amazing Sport Stories brings you the greatest twists and personal journeys from sport history. Listen for inspiring tales of courage, drama, myths and legends from all over the globe. All told in mini seasons and one-off documentary episodes. #AmazingSportStories

May 18, 2025 • 9min
Union Berlin’s rise to the Frauen Bundesliga
From the third tier of German women’s football to the Frauen-Bundesliga in successive seasons, Union Berlin’s women’s team have been on a rapid rise.They won the Bundesliga 2 title on the final day of the regular season on goal difference from Nurnberg, and next term will line up against the biggest names in German women’s football such as Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.World Football’s Delyth Lloyd has been speaking to Union Berlin forward Dina Orshmann about how it feels for the club to be in the top flight for the first time.PHOTO CREDIT: Dina Orshmann playing for Union Berlin (Credit: Union Berlin)

May 14, 2025 • 19min
Auckland’s debut champions
From having no footballs to winning the league in a year, World Football's Mani Djazmi's been following the extraordinary rise of Auckland FC.Football Director Terry McFlynn describes how they found the players and the fans, and defender Tommy Smith explains how the players started a dressing room culture from scratch, once they had been assembled.But how much is Auckland’s success down to having a billionaire owner, Bill Foley, and being part of his Black Knight multi-club group, that’s headed by Bournemouth?Photo: Auckland FC celebrate with the Premier's Plate following the round 28 A-League Men match between Auckland FC and Perth Glory at Go Media Stadium, on April 27, 2025, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Credit: Getty Images)

May 11, 2025 • 7min
Barcelona and Real Madrid deliver a classic El Clasico
Dive into the thrilling El Clasico where Barcelona clinched a dramatic 4-3 victory over Real Madrid, highlighted by Kylian Mbappe’s remarkable hat-trick. The conversation shifts to Barcelona's promising young stars like Lamin-Yamal and Pedri as they eye a bright future. Explore the evolving landscape of women's football, emphasizing the need for unique business models to nurture and sustain growth in the sport. Coaching changes and competitive dynamics in La Liga also take center stage, spotlighting the excitement of the current football season.