

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

Sep 8, 2016 • 27min
In Conversation with Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit gives his views on his former clubs AC Milan and Chelsea and discusses the recent struggles of the Dutch national team. Also on the programme, we're in Bangkok for the latest round of Asian World Cup qualifiers and Jon Smith gives an insight into the life of a football agent.Picture: Ruud Gullit during the Euro qualifier match between the Netherlands and Cyprus at De Kuip on October 28, 1987 in Rotterdam (VI Images via Getty Images).

Sep 1, 2016 • 27min
Nigerian Chaos and the Afghan Premier League
Nigeria's Samson Siasia on winning a bronze medal in Rio despite chaotic preparations and no pay. We spend a day with agent Samira Samii, one of the few female football agents working in Europe. And find out more about football in Afghanistan as the new Afghan Premier League season kicks-off.Picture: Samson Siasia the coach of Nigeria looks on during the national anthems prior to the FIFA U20 World Cup Round of Sixteen match between Germany and Nigeria at the Mubarak Stadium on October 7, 2009 in Suez, Egypt. (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Aug 25, 2016 • 26min
Indian trail-blazer
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu talks about his journey from Mohali to Oslo, and becoming the first Indian footballer to play in the top division of a European league.US international Joanna Lohman discusses the six-month ban given to national goalkeeper Hope Solo for calling the Swedish team “a bunch of cowards”.Celtic in Be’er Sheva: with a looming fine for displaying Palestinian flags hanging over them, we’re with the Scottish champions for the second leg of their European Champions League qualifier in Israel.Life after football – the former Dutch international Reggi Blinker tells us how he’s helping former professionals to adapt after retiring from the game.And the Southampton coach, Claude Puel, reveals how his mentor, Arsene Wenger, encouraged him to move to the English south coast.(Photo; Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in goal for India, Credit; Getty Images)

Aug 18, 2016 • 32min
In Conversation with Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter talks about the death of his 'teacher' Joao Havelange and his appeal against a 6 year ban from football. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper Walter Zenga looks ahead to the new football season in Italy. Following the attack of a player during a match in Sweden, is there a new type of football violence being committed by fans? Plus, a look ahead to the finals of the Olympic football tournaments.Picture: FIFA president Joseph 'Sepp' Blatter (Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images)

Aug 11, 2016 • 27min
Moussa Sissoko: Get Me Out of Here
French international Moussa Sissoko discusses his uncertain club future, the heartbreak of losing the Euro 2016 final and swaps stories about his close friend, Paul Pogba. South African under-23 international Ty Sandows assesses Brazil's Olympic hopes. We hear about the challenges facing the President of the South Sudan FA, with the country on the verge of another Civil War. And we find out why FC Cincinnati are creating so much interest in the city, despite being in existence for just one year.Picture: Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at The Etihad Stadium (Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Aug 4, 2016 • 30min
Bullied Footballers and Argentina's new coach
Albanian footballer Sebino Plaku and Dejan Stefanovic of the players' union FIFPro discuss the problem of bullying in football. Argentina's Claudio Lopez gives his view on the appointment of Edgardo Bauza as national team coach. And the former Nigerian international, Taribo West, remembers winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.Picture: Wroclaw's Sebino Plaku fights for the ball during the return leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League football match Brugge vs WKS Slask Wroclaw in Brugge (KURT DESPLENTER/AFP/Getty Images)

Jul 28, 2016 • 28min
FIFA's First Lady and Beitar Jerusalem's Far-Right Fans
An exclusive interview with FIFA's Secretary General Fatma Samoura. Following a crackdown in Israel, we find out about Beitar Jerusalem's ultra-nationalist fan group called La Familia. And we look back at Antonio Conte's first managerial job at Arezzo.Picture: FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura looks on at a news conference following a meeting of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Local Organising Committee (Sergei Fadeichev\TASS via Getty Images)

Jul 21, 2016 • 27min
UEFA's top job, Venezia FC and North Korea's World Cup Heroes
UEFA vice President Michael van Praag discusses his bid for the top job. Venezia FC owner Joe Tacopina outlines his vision for football in Venice. And we remember the North Korean team which caused one of the biggest World Cup upsets by defeating Italy 50 years ago.Picture: Michael van Praag of UEFA during the UEFA Euro 2016 round of 16 match between Italy and Spain on June 27, 2016 at the Stade de France in Paris, France (VI Images via Getty Images)

Jul 14, 2016 • 27min
Chinese Super League, Toshack and a Homeless World Cup
Croatian midfielder Darko Matic and Demba Ba's agent, Alex Gonfran, discuss the changing face of football in China. The former Real Madrid coach John Toshack talks about life in Casablanca and how he hopes to win the African Champions League. We visit the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow. And the former co-owner of Swansea City, John van Zweden, talks about his unlikely love affair with the club and the recent take-over by American businessmen.Picture: Brazil's Hulk (R) poses with his new jersey during a press conference after joining Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG Football Club (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Jul 8, 2016 • 27min
Euro 2016: Glory Awaits
A look ahead to the final of Euro 2016 as the hosts France prepare to take on Portugal. Hear from former France international Bruno Bellone and controversial coach Guy Roux.Picture: Supporters during the Uefa Euro Semi final between Wales and Portugal at Stade des Lumieres on July 6, 2016 in Lyon, France.(Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport via Getty Images)


