The Sweeper

In Part 1, Lee and Paul preview the inaugural OFC Pro League – the first fully professional football competition in Oceania’s history – which kicks off in New Zealand on Saturday 17 January. What matches will take place in the first circuit series in Auckland – and where can you watch them? Which team will have to travel the furthest and cross the International Date Line for their fixtures? Who are the standout players to watch out for? And what does the new tournament mean for the future of the OFC Champions League?In Part 2, there are stories from Europe, Africa and Asia. In Germany, a former Bundesliga coach is managing two McDonald’s restaurants – but what other unusual careers have footballers had after hanging up their boots? At AFCON, Mali have turned to a fetish priest to tip fate in their favour for their game against Tunisia. What on earth is one of those, we hear you ask?! And finally, Japan prepares for its transition to an autumn-spring league. But which J-League club have been royally screwed over by the switch? Chapters00:00 – Intro04:11 – OFC Pro League: Format & fixtures08:58 – OFC Pro League: Distances & date lines13:24 – OFC Pro League: Intriguing individuals23:23 – OFC Pro League: Concurrent competitions27:54 – The German ex-coach working at McDonald's31:32 – Strangest former footballer careers38:53 – Mali's fetish priest & Gabon's letter46:03 – Japan's schedule switch & Fukushima United

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Asia correspondent John Duerden to cast a look at some huge stories across the continent – in India, Malaysia and South Korea. What on earth happened on Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of Kolkata? And why is the world’s largest country still without a top-flight league months after the season should have gotten under way? What has the fallout been from Malaysia’s attempt to illegally naturalise seven players? And why did Gus Poyet resign in protest after winning the double with Jeonbuk in South Korea?In Part 2, Africa correspondent Ali Howorth drops in before flying to Morocco to give us the lowdown on AFCON 2025 and help us decide which team to support at the tournament. Then it’s over to Europe to put the Ekstraklasa under the microscope. But what unique situation that we have never seen before has occurred in Poland’s top flight? And finally, to mark the festive season, there is a mention for Christmas Island – an Australian overseas territory that is known for its red crabs and its football rivalry with the nearby Cocos Islands.World Soccer magazine special offer: shop.kelsey.co.uk/sweeperxmas25John Duerden’s Substack newsletter: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.comAli Howarth’s AFCON flow chart: https://x.com/ahoworth97/status/2001293214012014953Chapters00:00 – Intro00:35 – India’s Super League crisis08:56 – Other leagues in limbo worldwide11:29 – Malaysia’s naturalisation scandal21:47 – Gus Poyet’s Jeonbuk departure27:17 – AFCON 2025 in Morocco39:55 – The crazy Polish Ekstraklasa44:25 – Mayhem & chaos across UEFA48:00 – Christmas Island and red crabs53:45 – On The Spot - The Apertura crown

In Part 1, Lee and Paul take a deep dive into Canadian football, including the national team's World Cup draw, Vancouver Whitecaps' incredible campaign and the changes to the line-up in the Canadian Premier League. Do Canada have a chance against Qatar, Switzerland – and probably Italy? Will the Vancouver Whitecaps be able to stay in Vancouver? How on earth did the Canadian Premier League's bottom club qualify for the top continental competition? And who are FC Supra du Quebec, the new club joining the division in 2026? In Part 2, it's the usual array of stories from across the world. Several French overseas territories award four points for a win – but what other location-specific football rules exist around the world? Lee tests Paul in a quiz! Over in Norway, a season of surprises continues as Viking claim the Eliteserien and second-tier Lillestrøm win the Norwegian Cup. We hear from Viking's No.1 overseas fan Babsi! And finally, the 2026 World Cup group stage draw is now done and dusted. Which debutant has the best chance of going through? Copa 90 documentary on Vancouver Whitecaps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Hnk37Lwo8 Weird and wacky football rules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_tournament_ranking_system#Association_football Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:47 – Canada's World Cup prospects02:38 – The Vancouver Whitecaps story07:24 – Relocation fears11:35 – Vancouver FC's Champions Cup qualification15:33 – The newcomers: FC Supra du Québec17:50 – The departure: Valour FC19:43 – The rebrand: Inter Toronto24:33 – Four points per win in the Caribbean28:15 – Bizarre football rules quiz36:30 – Norway's season of surprises48:14 – Debutant World Cup groups50:38 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by North and Central American football expert Jon Arnold to talk about the craziness in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Why did Curacao fly from Bermuda to Jamaica via London in the November window? Why has Haiti's French coach Sebastien Migne never set foot on the island? How did an uncelebrated last-gasp own goal save Suriname's World Cup hopes? And was it a cowardly move for Steve McClaren to resign as Jamaica coach with the play-offs coming up in March? In Part 2, the focus switches to three stories across three different continents that have caught our eye at Sweeper HQ: promoted Thun's Swiss title charge, Al Hilal and Al Merrikh's move to Rwanda, and a controversial new championship title in Argentina. What has coach Mauro Lustrinelli done to help Thun take the Super League by storm this season? What exclusive club have the Sudanese duo of Al Hilal and Al Merrikh joined by moving to Rwanda? And will Argentina really have eight title-winners every year?!  More from Jon Arnold:YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jonarnoldfcSubstack newsletter: https://getconcacafed.substack.com  Chapters:00:00 – Intro00:51 – Curacao's World Cup miracle13:17 – Haiti's triumph in face of adversity23:47 – The own goal that saved Suriname26:57 – The inter-confederation play-offs28:35 – Steve McClaren's Jamaica exit35:40 – Thun's extraordinary Swiss title tilt39:48 – 2025: The year of the promoted club41:48 – Sudanese duo's Rwanda move45:19 – Trivia: Three-country football clubs46:49 – Argentina's new championship title51:07 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Nathan Joyes, a South American football expert and the host of the Copa Club Podcast to talk about some sensational stories from the CONMEBOL nations this season. Why do Chile’s new champions Coquimbo Unido have a pirate theme? Which strategic decision helped Mirassol rise from the sixth tier to the brink of the Copa Libertadores? Is there something in the water in Argentina, where underdogs are sweeping up the trophies? And which other South American country deserves a special mention? In Part 2, the focus moves to elsewhere in the southern hemisphere: Oceania. Lee attended the soft launch event for the OFC Pro League, the continent’s first-ever professional competition, and has some interesting nuggets to share. Where and when will the OFC Pro League get under way? How will the tournament benefit the Tahiti and Fiji national teams. Is Christchurch United’s rebrand as South Island United a good or bad decision? And would South Melbourne theoretically be able to represent Oceania at the Club World Cup? More from Copa ClubPodcast: https://linktr.ee/thecopaclubSubstack: https://thecopaclub.substack.com Chapters00:00 – Intro01:48 – Chile’s pirate champions08:53 – Brazil’s meteoric risers18:47 – Argentina’s year of the underdog21:03 – Bolivian identity fraud25:09 – Sweepers On Tour26:11 – OFC Pro League recap28:02 – OFCPL: Launches & logistics33:27 – OFCPL: Coaches & CEOs37:15 – OFCPL: Rebrands & reserves40:29 – OFCPL: Non-OFC neighbours45:16 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee sits down with Virslīga President Maksims Krivunecs in Riga for an inside look at the Latvian football landscape. What is Latvia’s unique claim to fame within the 55 UEFA countries? Why have five of the country’s nine different champions since independence gone out of business? What does the average Virslīga footballer earn per month? And why is he in favour of setting up a Baltic League along with Lithuania and Estonia?In Part 2, Lee returns to the virtual studio to dissect Maksim’s grand plan for a Baltic League and tell Paul all about the live experience at the Latvian Cup final. What format for the Baltic League take and how would the three stages of the competition work? What is the likelihood of it ever happening? Why was the Skonto Stadium in Riga only 14% full for the big match? And what exactly is the strange relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK?*There is NO official proof on paper of an official relationship between Riga FC and Auda FK. Our source regarding their curious connection is Baltic Football News: balticfootballnews.comChapters00:00 – Intro01:10 – The good and bad of Latvian football04:23 – The vanishing champion problem12:11 – Memorable European nights20:05 – The Baltic League grand plan28:08 – Format, strengths & weaknesses37:37 – The 2025 Latvian Cup final47:20 – On The Spot

In Part 1, Lee and Paul reflect on ultimate underdogs Mjällby becoming Swedish champions and the key figures behind their unlikely Allsvenskan triumph. How have sporting director Hasse Larsson and coach Anders Torstensson shown courage in the face of adversity? Why are Mjällby the best-ever team in Swedish history? And why is the village of Hällevik looking for a new postman? And from one first-time champion to another, Titas Teiten of Baltic Football News has the lowdown on new Lithuanian title-winners Kauno Žalgiris. Part 2 continues in Lithuania, where Lee has paid a visit to second-tier champions TransINVEST and their stunning newstadium to ask some key questions. How does a new club based in a village outside Vilnius and owned by a logistics company build a fanbase from scratch? What has the reaction been in the rest of Lithuania? And why is football firmlyin the shadow of basketball in this beautiful Baltic country? To finish off, there are tales of helicopters, heartbreak and heroism in Ireland, Iceland and Kazakhstan respectively. More from Baltic Football NewsRead the Baltic Football News WebsiteListen to the Baltic Football Podcast Chapters00:00 – Intro00:45 – The Mjällby miracle09:37 – Kauno Žalgiris with Baltic Football News 14:08 – A trip to TransINVEST 29:45 – Ireland’s marathon helicopter31:51 – Relegation for cup winners Vestri32:50 – Final-day drama in Kazakhstan34:23 – On The Spot

In Part 1 of this special episode, Paul is joined by African football expert Ali Howorth live from the Cape Verdean capital of Praia to talk about the country’s historic World Cup qualification. What force of nature helped the islanders get the job done against Eswatini? What were the highlights of the after-party? What role has the Dutch city of Rotterdam played in Cape Verde’s success? And why might the Blue Sharks have more fans than expected at the World Cup? In Part 2, Lee and Paul hear from Cape Verde central defender Roberto Lopes, who explains the story of his international recruitment via LinkedIn, and discuss everything from diaspora to donkeys. Why are there as many Cape Verdeans living overseas as on the islands themselves? Which geographical and demographical records have they broken by qualifying? And how has the Portuguese colonial rule shaped the domestic game today? More from Ali HoworthOn The Whistle Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@otw_podcastSubstack Newsletter: https://alasdairhoworth.substack.com/ Chapters00:00 – Intro01:52 – Ali Howorth live from Praia18:47 – Cape Verde shirt giveaway20:00 – Diaspora and DMs24:07 – Roberto Lopes voice note26:37 – Best international recruitments28:58 – World Cup’s smallest nations35:14 – Domestic football and donkeys

In Part 1, Lee tells Paul about his travels to watch pod favourites Greenland and San Marino live during their respective trips to Austria over the international window. How did he impact the course of the Arctic island's match against Slovenia from the sidelines? What insights did he glean from inside the Greenland camp? Why is the legendary Austrian striker Toni Polster so bitter towards San Marino? And what question did Lee ask SM coach Roberto Cevoli at the press conference following his side's double-digit defeat? There's more groundhopping tales to tell in Part 2 – but this time from the club game, because Lee has also been to watch Paks against Ferencváros in a Hungarian top-of-the-table clash in Budapest. What resemblance do Hungary's surprise league leaders bear to Athletic Bilbao of Spain? Why is their ultra group named 'Atomic Strike'? Why did thousands of Ferencváros fans change places in the stands five minutes into the match? And why might we not recommend live football in Hungary to groundhoppers? Support The Sweeper• Join The Sweeper on Patreon• Support The Sweeper on Buy Me A Coffee LinksWatch Greenland's Football Heroes (in German) hereChapters00:00 – Intro00:30 – Greenland: Assists & red cards07:01 – Greenland: Insights from the camp14:27 – San Marino: Double-digit demolition20:23 – San Marino: The press conference25:39 – Paks: The Athletic Bilbao of Hungary29:12 – Football Manager save ideas31:37 – Paks: Robbie Keane's many meltdowns35:00 – Paks: The power plant ultra group

In Part 1, Lee and Paul investigate why Slovakia have finally been recognised as EURO 1976 winners 49 years later – with the help of a UEFA insider, a Slovak football podcaster and people on the ground in the capital, Bratislava. How is the successor country of a no-longer existing nation like Czechoslovakia determined? What brought about the update on UEFA’s website on 12 September? And what do Slovaks make of the bizarre timing of this decision?In Part 2, the focus switches to the Italian lower leagues. There’s a mafia infiltration at Crotone at Foggia, as various criminal gangs target teams based in the south of Italy. Further north, Ternana appoint the 23-year-old daughter of a billionaire as their new club president. And Italy-based FC Südtirol face WSG Tirol of Austria, the club with only one away fan (sort of), in an intriguing match-up of two teams based in regions that used to be in the same country.#slovakia #euro1976 #uefa #worldfootball #footballpodcast #crotone #ternana #seriec #serieb #italianfootballSign up to FIFA+ for free• This episode is brought to you in association with FIFA+. Click here to get your free FIFA+ account and watch live football around the world: ⁠www.tinyurl.com/FIFAPlusSweeper• Send us an email to sweeperpod@gmail.com with some information about yourself and your preferences if you want us to handpick you a new FIFA+ football team to support.#MakeItHappen – Montserrat v India friendly• X: https://x.com/SweeperPod/status/1970926209614979083• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO_v2AMDeq8/Support The Sweeper• Join The Sweeper on Patreon• Support The Sweeper on Buy Me A CoffeeFollow The Sweeper• Twitter: x.com/SweeperPod• Instagram: instagram.com/sweeperpod • Facebook: facebook.com/SweeperPodThe Sweeper team• Hosts: Lee Wingate and Paul Watson• Editor: Ralph FosterChapters00:00 – Intro00:51 – Czechoslovakia's EURO 1976 win05:27 – Football successor nations09:28 – UEFA's recognition for Slovakia14:21 – Reaction from Bratislava25:47 – Montserrat's challenge to India30:04 – Crotona's mafia infiltration35:00 – Atalanta U23s in Serie C south37:47 – Ternana's 23-year-old club president42:17 – Serie C on FIFA+44:04 – Battle of the Italian & Austrian Tyrols46:10 – WSG Tirol's one away supporter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.