The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

The old European Cup Winners’ Cup made headlines like almost no other continental competition – but was eventually discontinued by UEFA following the 1998/99 campaign.

And yet 22 years later, Europe’s governing body reintroduced a third-tier competition for its 55 member nations: the Conference League, which was launched in 2021/22.

So what were the standout moments in Cup Winners’ Cup history? Why did UEFA abolish it, only to start another tertiary competition almost a quarter of a century later? And how does it compare to its modern-day equivalent: the Conference League?

Plus, a quiz on the teams of old that participated in the CWC and a deep dive on the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which has now morphed into the Europa League.

Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bonus podcast, in which we explore the FIFA U15 World Cup taking place in Azerbaijan – the largest international tournament in football history with 189 teams – and round up other stories from Canada, Uruguay and Germany.

Follow The Sweeper on Twitter/X and Instagram.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – European club competition timeline

04:12 – Highlights of the Cup Winners’ Cup

10:05 – The launch of the Conference League

12:00 – Patreon plug: The FIFA U15 World Cup

12:40 – The debate: CWC versus UECL

20:25 – The quiz: Real or fake CWC teams

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IFK Mariehamn were dubbed ‘the Finnish Leicester’ when they sensationally won their first and only Veikkausliiga title in 2016, only seven years after turning fully professional as a club.

But a decade later, the team from the Åland Islands – a predominantly Swedish-speaking archipelago in the Baltic Sea – have been relegated, ending a 22-year top-flight stay.

So how did this cluster of scenic islands and their 30,000 residents fall under Finnish jurisdiction? What were the factors behind the sensational rise and fall of IFK Mariehamn? And which other island clubs have become national champions in European football history?

Plus, the island clubs that you didn’t know were island clubs. Lee puts Paul to the test by quizzing his niche European football geography knowledge.

Join us here on Patreon for our Monday bonus podcast, where we tell a special selection of stories that we have kept behind especially for our subscribers. You can also join our growing Discord community and chat with the hosts and your fellow listeners.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:30 – An overview of the Åland Islands

03:42 – The rise of IFK Mariehamn

06:28 – The secrets to the success

12:25 – The fall and future of the club

15:42 – Island club champions in Europe

19:41 – Geography quiz – Island club or not?

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UEFA has not added to its 55 members in a decade – the longest time between new additions since San Marino joined in 1988 – though it has not been for a lack of trying.

Greenland have been desperate for competitive football and Jersey have even taken their case to court, but are both regarded as ineligible. Meanwhile, the two countries that do fulfil the current criteria – Monaco and Vatican City – appear to have no interest in joining.

So what exactly are the rules for becoming a UEFA member? Why do Monaco and the Vatican choose not to join? How did it go when the Pope talked with president Aleksander Čeferin about potential Vatican membership? And why does Monaco stay away from the European football family despite being home to a former UCL finalist?

Plus, the Iberian dispute that changed the rules on membership forever and the other contenders to become the 56th member of UEFA.

Join us on Patreon to listen to our back catalogue of more than 100 bonus episodes, enter our football shirt giveaways, join our chat community on Discord, play the daily GeoFooty quiz, read our weekly newsletters and monthly World Soccer columns, and much more besides!

Listen to the Greenland episode with Nick Miller from June 2025 here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:50 – Rules on UEFA membership

05:12 – Monaco: Unwilling to gamble?

10:20 – Vatican City: A papal intervention

13:30 – Other contenders for 56th member

15:09 – Jersey: Victory at CAS

17:33 – Greenland: Nowhere to turn

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By 2030, half of CONMEBOL’s 10 members will have hosted a World Cup match. But the likes of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru are unlikely to ever follow suit – in large part due to altitude.

Bolivia are the absolute kings of elevation, boasting the highest-altitude international stadium in the world (the Estadio Municipal de El Alto, which sits 4,088 metres above sea level) and frequently making mincemeat of superior footballing sides on home turf.

So on this episode, we’re simulating what would happen if Bolivia were awarded World Cup hosting rights: Which stadia across the country could host matches? How deep could La Verde go with home advantage on their side? And which low-altitude countries might struggle?

Plus, the scientific impacts of elevation on footballing performance and the highest-altitude cities to ever host a World Cup match in real life.

Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bonus podcast, in which we tell the story of South Melbourne’s Australia Cup victory – the first non-A-League side to ever lift the trophy – and assess where they will compete continentally next year. Hellas, as they are known, qualify for the AFC Champions League 2 as cup winners but are also one of the eight teams in the OFC Pro League.

The Guardian's article: 'Altitude: how does it affect players and how big is England’s disadvantage?' by Nicola Davis is here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:40 – Bolivia’s altitude advantage

03:47 – Scientific impact of elevation

10:48 – The host stadium line-up

17:54 – Tournament predictions

21:45 – Highest-altitude countries

24:00 – Lowest altitude countries

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Real Sociedad were in action in Vigo last weekend – not in La Liga but in La Liga 2, in what is currently the only fixture between two B-teams in Spain’s second tier.

The presence of reserve teams has long been a source of fierce discussion and debate within Spanish football, which remains deeply divided over their inclusion.

So what are the pros and cons of integrating B-teams into the national football pyramid? Did it really serve as a catalyst for the Spanish team’s 2026 World Cup win in North America? And how does the system compare to other leading European nations?

Plus, we look at the rules governing B-team involvement and tell the unlikely story of when Real Madrid Castilla played in the old European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Join us on Patreon for a Monday bumper bonus podcast focusing on all things Asian football, from the brand-new AFC Nations League that was recently unveiled to Indonesia’s unlikely hero as they end their 35-year wait for a trophy in the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

Check out the range of Spanish shirts at our partner Golaco Kits here. Get 10% off using the discount code SWEEPER10.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:31 – A brief history of B-teams in Spain

04:10 – The rules governing their involvement

07:30 – The pros and cons of reserve teams

13:05 – Celta Fortuna v. Real Sociedad B

15:25 – Other leading European leagues

19:58 – The ultimate B-team football quiz

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Almost a decade ago, a scandal shook Albanian football as Skenderbeu were found guilty of match-fixing on an unprecedented scale and banned by UEFA for 10 years.

It is the longest ban in European football history, but Albania’s eight-time national champions could return to the continental stage next season if they finish high enough this term.

So what exactly did Skenderbeu do to make Manchester City look like absolute saints? How has their conduct impacted Albanian football’s reputation? And which other European club equalled their record only to have their ban reduced by three years on appeal?

Plus, we pay a visit to the beautiful Air Albania Stadium to take in a fiery Tirana derby, and we announce The Sweeper's partnership with Futbology which played a crucial role in planning the trip!

Join us on Patreon for a deep dive into the newly announced AFC Nations League, which is set to launch in 2030 and will reshape Asia’s World Cup qualification process, and a look at the Millwall player who became a star for Indonesia in their ASEAN Cup success.

You can download Futbology here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:54 – Skenderbeu’s 10-year ban

04:46 – Albania’s Flamingo Revolution and corruption problems

08:53 – Albania’s unusual league format

11:43 – Futbology’s continental badges

15:25 – Tirana derby live report

26:22 – Tourist highlights from Albania

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Relations on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east, are already fraught enough.

But tensions were ramped up even further last week by the events that unfolded at the first football match between the countries in 13 years.

So why is the geopolitical situation on Hispaniola unlike almost anywhere else in the world? What happened at that CONCACAF Nations League clash to spark a diplomatic backlash? And how often do two countries on the same island meet on the football pitch?

Plus, Caribbean countries leave their Central American counterparts trailing in their wake. And diaspora recruitment continues to change the face of international football.

Join us on Patreon to listen to all our podcasts early and ad-free on your platform of choice. Bonus podcasts are also released every Monday with a selection of special stories saved especially for our subscribers. Up this week: minnow magic in the Coupe de France.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

01:25 – Hispaniola’s complex geopolitical context

03:58 – Crowd rush, stadium ban & diplomatic backlash

09:15 – The match: Dominican Republic 1-4 Haiti

11:53 – Shared island derbies around the world

17:50 – CONCACAF Nations League highlights

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With a combined 2.9 billion inhabitants, India and China are the world’s largest countries. Yet both of them underachieve spectacularly when it comes to international football.

The two Asian nations have made just one World Cup appearance between them and have consistently come up short at continental level as well.

So what are the reasons behind India and China’s international soccer struggles? How many years will it be before one of them graces the world’s greatest stage again? And why does a huge population not automatically translate into footballing success?

Plus, there’s a word for the world’s other top 10 largest countries who missed out on this summer’s World Cup and how the widespread adoption of the diaspora strategy is making a large player pool less relevant than ever before.

You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. The main story is all about the Coupe de France - but not the overseas territories this time. There's an epic 10th-tier cupset, a draw with a missing ball and much more besides!

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:30 – India & China’s football struggles

05:10 – Sporting priorities and systems

06:23 – Grassroots and development

08:39 – Domestic league disarray

11:25 – Corruption and scandal

13:57 – Poor leadership and incompetence

16:53 – Population versus performance

18:55 – Predictions for the future

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Ireland last year joined Türkiye and Norway in calling for the suspension of Israel’s UEFA membership for what the United Nations has termed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The Nations League draw in February 2026 then pitted the two countries against each other, leading to the emergence of a ‘Stop the Game’ movement in Ireland and a request from the FAI for UEFA to keep them apart in future draws.

So why exactly did UEFA deny that request? Could that change if they were consistent in applying the criteria they have used for similar cases in the past? And what dramatic scenes unfolded in the run-up to their first meeting in Debrecen on Sunday?

Plus, we take a trip to watch FIFA’s newest member Kosovo for the first time as they play Austria in Vienna in the other game in Ireland and Israel’s group.

Join us on Patreon to listen to our weekly subscriber-only episodes and our full back catalogue of bonus content, including the podcast from 3 September about the return of football to Palestine after a three-year absence.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:58 – The context for the animosity

03:38 – A dramatic day in Debrecen

06:37 – Ireland’s denied UEFA request

07:00 – Europe’s seven banned fixtures

08:22 – The Serbia-Albania criteria

11:30 – UEFA’s newest member Kosovo - live

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Die-hard club football fans love to grumble about the international window, especially now that it has been extended as part of FIFA’s new-look calendar.

But it is a myth that top-flight club football completely ceases during international windows. We know because we’ve been poring over the league of all 211 FIFA members!

So which countries don’t actually have a football league to speak of at present? Which nations are so closed to the outside world that finding out information is nigh-on impossible? And what is, in fact, the highest-profile league continuing during the September/October window?

Plus, French overseas territories hold a special Coupe de France qualifying window and Mexico’s Liga MX unexpectedly bucks a trend across the football world.

Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bonus podcast, which was recorded in front of a live studio audience. We bring you the best obscure headlines from the international window, including the Cook Islands’ first home game in 28 years and a controversial call-up in Madagascar.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:23 – Nations with no league

03:45 – Countries closed off to the world

05:31 – Overview: UEFA

07:42 – Overview: CONCACAF & CONMEBOL

10:44 – Overview: CAF, AFC & OFC

13:35 – Highest-profile continuing leagues

15:40 – Outro

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South Korea’s Gimcheon Sangmu are one of the most curious clubs in world football, with players only allowed to stay for 18 months while they complete their military service.

They also cannot play in AFC competitions and are 100% certain to be relegated from the K-League this season, even if they were to finish top of the table.

So are the players footballers, soldiers or both? Is it actually compulsory to perform the military salute when they score a goal? Why are they doomed to relegation in 2026 whatever happens? And what major change is set to come to the K-League soon?

Plus, Andros Townsend is run over by a Thai pitch roller, Uruguay chases its first-ever Copa Sudamericana title, an Icelandic referee goes on a literal wild goose chase and Romania introduces a black card for abusive parents.

Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales from Central and Eastern Europe, plus a special blog interview with FC Vaduz’s director of football Franz Burgmeier all about Liechtenstein’s integration into Swiss football.

Links

John Duerden's 'How Football Explains Asia' Substack is here.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – Gimcheon Sangmu’s last hurrah

07:55 – Andros Townsend’s Thai accident

10:30 – Uruguay’s first Copa Sudamericana?

14:50 – Romania’s black card initiative

19:45 – Iceland’s literal wild goose chase

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There have been 92 editions of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to date. Only two of them have been won by clubs other than Benfica, Sporting and Porto.

A whopping 95% of football fans in Portugal support the big three – a share that even dwarves the share of national support for the big three in Türkiye and the Netherlands.

So how have the trio established such a fierce grip on the domestic game and its fans? What role have the country’s history and geography had to play? And what chance, if any, does a club outside the big three have of breaking its stranglehold?

Plus, countrymen Torreense claim the first European league phase win for a lower-league team in a decade and our partner Golaço Kits holds a Portuguese club shirt giveaway!

You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. In it, we take a virtual journey across Central and Eastern Europe to profile four unique clubs, including the village team who lured Real Madrid’s 12th man to Moldova!

Links

Lee’s ESPN article

Paulo Sarreira’s hotel

The Golaço Kits website (promo code: SWEEPER10)

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:52 – Triumph for Torreense

02:40 – Big three dominance

07:43 – 95% national support

10:58 – Lusophone influence

14:10 – Potential challengers

18:10 - Golaço Kits giveaway

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There is a lot to love about the English non-leagues, but it will be hard to top the sensational story that emerged about SE Dons goalie George Desmond Kamurasi last week.

The 36-year-old, who plies his trade in England’s ninth tier, has been chosen to be the next king of the Tooro people, one of the four traditional kingdoms in Uganda, following the death of his cousin, King Oyo, in late August.

There are so many questions to be answered. Who, for example, has chosen him to be the king – and why? Could he miss his cousin’s funeral for football? Does he want to be royalty in Africa? And what might happen if he rejects the offer and stays in the UK?

Plus, Dominica’s national team takes the unusual step of appealing on social media for a new goalkeeper, Vanuatu hosts its first professional matches, and Norwegian side Strømmen send their reserves to the Arctic Circle.

You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. It features tales from the CAF Confederation Cup, such as the Seychelles side drawn to play in Ebola-hit DR Congo and Botswana club Jwaneng Galaxy’s on-pitch sorcery.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:02 – Uganda’s non-league king

07:04 - Dominica’s online goalkeeper hunt

13:30 - Vanuatu’s first professional match

16:41 – The Norwegian cup cop-outs

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The English FA Cup is the oldest and most storied domestic football competition in the world. But it is not the most inclusive. The Coupe de France comfortably takes that title.

The tournament not only has 7,000+ participants, but also invites teams from French overseas territories, creating special experiences and mammoth away days for those involved. We have often wondered what the FA Cup would look like if England followed France’s lead.

So on this episode, we’re simulating that very scenario: Which British Overseas Territories have enough people and footballers to take part? Which teams would be invited to play? Where would the ties be held? And how would the guests fare against mainland opposition?

Join us on Patreon for this Monday’s bonus podcast featuring the underdogs and outsiders in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the Europa League. If you enjoyed the recent episode on the CAF Champions League, this one is for you.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:02 – Disclaimers and caveats

01:35 – Overview of British Overseas Territories

03:11 – The ineligible territories

08:12 – The eligible territories & their teams

11:22 – The big theoretical questions

19:45 – Forecasts and predictions

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Football fans have produced some remarkable tifos over the years – but surely none can rival Osnabrück’s moving rollercoaster for their DFB-Pokal tie with Bayern Munich?!

The second-tier German club’s ultras came up with the viral sensation to illustrate what a rollercoaster ride it has recently been to support the club, which has endured three promotions and two relegations since 2019.

But how did they actually put such an elaborate choreography together? Did it make a difference in their cup clash against Germany’s record champions? And where does it sit among the pantheon of the greatest football tifos?

Plus, Turkish team Mersin İdman Yurdu’s 14-year nightmare is over and Lee visits an Austrian stadium built on the rooftop of a furniture store. A goalkeeper finds the net not just once but twice in the Netherlands. And Kyrgyzstan’s spectacular yurt-themed stadium has opened in style with the World Nomad Games, a goat carcass, and an unlikely singing guest.

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales such as the Kenyan dispute that has delayed the start to the season and the renegade Italian club wearing an illegal kit that the authorities have not yet spotted.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – Osnabrück’s rollercoaster tifo

05:28 – Mersin İdman Yurdu’s 14-year transfer ban

10:55 – Goalkeeper bags a brace in the Netherlands

13:40 – Blau-Weiß Linz’s furniture store stadium

16:58 – Kyrgyzstan’s yurt stadium opening

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There are plenty of tough places to go for a CAF Champions League away game this season. But few can rival the harsh climes of the desert, where Algerian club JS Saoura are from.

The Eagles, who are based in Béchar – a city often referred to as “the gateway to the Sahara”, finished as runners-up in the Ligue Professionelle 1 last season and sealed their spot in the qualifying rounds of the CAF Champions League.

So how did a club from this Saharan outpost ascend to Algeria’s top table in record time? Just how difficult is it for their domestic rivals who travel 3,000 kilometres to the desert? And what are their chances against Horoya of Guinea in the first round?

Plus, Mauritian upstarts La Cure Waves prepare for their first game on the African mainland, Lesotho’s Lijabatho FC come up with a curious funeral scheme for their fans and Burkinabe club Rahimo FC’s bus company business model proves a hit.

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales such as the Kenyan dispute that has delayed the start to the season and the renegade Italian club wearing an illegal kit that the authorities have not yet spotted.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:17 – JS Saoura: The gateway to the desert

04:31 – La Cure Waves: The holiday island upstarts

09:40 – The countries not in the Champions League

13:35 – Patreon plug for Monday’s episode

14:58 – Lijabatho FC: The funeral schemers

18:35 – Rahimo FC: The wholesome bus boys

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There are some simply sensational stories to be told about the 108 league phase participants in the three UEFA club competitions this season.

For example, it’s not every day that a ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ contestant uses their winnings to become a football manager in England, starts out in the ninth tier and eventually guides a nine-year-old Azerbaijani club into the UEFA Champions League!

So how much did Lithuanian tactician Valdas Dambrauskas win to kickstart his managerial career? How has he taken Sabah to a first league title and the pinnacle of European club football in just one year? And why do the club from Maksimir play in pink?

Plus, second-tier Portuguese side Torreense prepare for a Europa League campaign in cyclone-hit Leiria, Inter Club d’Escaldes achieve an historic milestone for Andorra and Greek islanders OFI Crete complete a remarkable rebound from administration.

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for Thursday’s round-up of all the best domestic cup stories across Europe – including the Slovak tie between two clubs with the same president – plus a preview of the returning Palestinian league.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – Sabah: The quiz show contestant

12:23 – Inter d’Escaldes: The micro-state trailblazers

21:43 – Torreense: The second-tier cup winners

26:40 – Jagiellonia Białystok: The winning Wi-Fi password

29:39 – OFI Crete: The revived islanders

33:45 – Yaya Touré, Viking, Hearts: The best of the rest

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There’s totally dominating a league – and then there’s Johor Darul Ta’zim! The Malaysians have won the last 12 Super Leagues, the joint-longest active title-winning run in world football.

But JDT are currently in the limelight for a different reason: they have set a new record for the longest league unbeaten streak in football history at 109 games, surpassing the run of Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas between 1989 and 1994.

So how did they become such an all-conquering force? Why have they drawn scrutiny and criticism for their methods? And are they the world's most dominant team at national level?

Plus, Krieschow (with 560 inhabitants) becomes the smallest village to ever host a match in Germany’s DFB-Pokal, and UEFA reportedly talk to CONCACAF about joining forces on a new Nations League as the backlash against FIFA continues.

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for a Korean student’s real-life game of Football Manager in Malawi, a former tennis star playing in Austria’s lower leagues and an Albanian club owner literally throwing the cash around.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

00:50 – JDT’s 109 games unbeaten

04:40 – Royal rescue and scrutiny

09:43 – Domestic records worldwide

13:12 – Performance at AFC level

18:22 – The DFB-Pokal’s smallest village

26:10 – The UECACAF Nations League

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Mexico broke ranks with the rest of CONCACAF over Gianni Infantino’s botched plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup. Now there are reports the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) has hatched a secret deal with the FIFA President to help them join CONMEBOL.

The FMF has a long history in South American football. El Tri have played in the Copa America as guests 11 times, while its clubs have featured in the Copa Libertadores – even reaching the final three times. But a confederation switch would be another matter entirely.

So why would the FMF want to join South America’s governing body? What would be the pros and cons of leaving CONCACAF and moving down south? And which countries have set a precedent by trading one confederation for another in the past?

Plus, Malawi’s women make history by reaching the AFCON final – despite being the lowest-ranked country in the entire competition. And Ireland prepares for the launch of its brand-new third division: the FAI National League.

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for a full report from the Super Cup final between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg, where Somali referee Omar Artan became the first non-European to take charge of a major UEFA final.

Ali Howorth's excellent article about Malawi's women's team: 'Two clubs, two sisters and a condom company: how Malawi emerged from obscurity to the verge of the World Cup' is on his Substack here.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:50 – Mexico’s CONMEBOL switch rumours

03:37 – Past involvement in South America

05:30 – Pros & cons of confederation move

13:25 – Precedents for a continental switch

17:04 – Countries in a different geographic confederation

22:21 – Outsider Malawi’s historic WAFCON run

27:09 – Ireland’s brand-new third division

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The Coupe de France is the most international national cup competition in the world, with overseas territories located in every continent bar Asia taking part. The first to enter each year is always the team from Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in round 3.

And this season, the tiny archipelago off the coast of Canada’s Newfoundland will have a representative from the less populous island of Miquelon for the very first time, after AS Miquelonnaise won the local qualifying tournament.

But how does qualification work when there are only three teams in the archipelago? Why does Saint Pierre & Miquelon’s representative always start earlier than other overseas territories? And could a North American team theoretically play in the Europa League?

Plus, more withdrawals than usual from the week-long national championship forces Greenland into a strategic re-think. And Caito Teixeira, the president of Guinea-Bissau’s FA, breaches his bail conditions and goes on the run!

Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for a bonus episode this Thursday all about the 2026 OFC Champions League and how the most remote places on the planet watch football.

Sweeper listeners get 10% off at Golaço Kits by using the code SWEEPER10 at checkout and if you join us on Patreon, you will get 15% off!

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:48 – Football in Saint Pierre & Miquelon

04:00 – Miquelon’s Coupe de France debut

08:26 – Subarctic temperatures & a short season

10:32 – North America in the Europa League?

16:59 – Greenland’s chaotic championship

26:50 – Guinea-Bissau’s presidential escape

31:05 – Golaço Kits competition

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