The Footy Travelers Podcast

The Footy Travelers
  • 5.0 (28)
  • SOCCER

Welcome to the Footy Travelers Podcast, the ultimate destination for football fanatics and globe-trotting adventurers! If you live and breathe the beautiful game and dream of exploring the world, this is the show for you. Through riveting stories, passionate discussions, and expert insights from special guests - whether you're a fan of the world's most popular sport or an avid traveler seeking inspiration for your next adventure - the Footy Travelers Podcast is your passport to the thrilling intersection of soccer and exploration.

  1. 12/15/2025

    EP 79 | An Inside Look At ClubEleven's Epic Soccer Bus

    What happens when a group of creative friends pile into a retro-fitted Soccer Bus, hit the American highways, and follow the heartbeat of U.S. soccer across the country?   In this episode, the ClubEleven crew—Gabriel, Pablo, Tyler, and Justin—join The Footy Travelers to share stories from their cross-country journey during the 2025 U.S. soccer season, where they followed the US Open Cup, caught Club World Cup fever, connected with fans and fellow creators, and turned their bus into a rolling tribute to American soccer culture.   This episode is for anyone who believes the soul of the sport is found beyond the stadium—but sometimes parked just outside it!   Want to know more about ClubEleven's work? Check them out on Instagram: @clubeleven.     00:00 – Intro: A Soccer Bus Story 04:12 – Who Is ClubEleven? 11:20 – Why the Soccer Bus? 18:45 – Life on the Road: Challenges & Chaos 26:10 – US Open Cup Moments & Fan Encounters 35:22 – Creating the Magazine: The Soccer Odyssey 42:47 – The Culture of American Soccer, City by City 51:55 – What's Next for ClubEleven?

    58 min

  2. 10/08/2025

    Ep 78 | What It's Really Like at a Saudi Pro League Match w/ Matchstay's Lee Galvin

    Saudi Arabia has been a hot topic in the footy world the last several years. Big name signings. Premier League team ownership. World Cup 2034 hosting. But what is the football scene in Saudi Arabia actually like? In this episode, Colin sits down with Lee Galvin of Matchstay, who traveled to Jeddah and Riyadh to experience the Saudi Pro League for himself. From the myths and misconceptions to the world-class players, matchday vibes, and the impact of a no-alcohol culture, Lee shares how it compares to Europe—and why more fans might want to see it for themselves. Foot(y)notes: Saudi Arabia's World Cup 2034 promotional website: https://saudi2034.com.sa/ Get a more Saudi perspective on the Saudi Pro League with the recent Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/81783473 …or just watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivIYBD4tfQ Despite no alcohol, Saudi fans can still get rowdy and aggressive—Saudi style! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K0z23ppOkE More info on the Saudi university program Lee mentioned: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20151208190817896    04:37 | The inspiration (and price) for a trip to Saudi 07:48 | Saudi geography and Pro League teams 11:01 | Saudi stadiums and matchday atmosphere 16:06 | The alcohol myth busted 19:11 | Getting to the game and navigating around Saudi Arabian cities 25:57 | The hardest thing to deal with as a Westerner 32:35 | Out of grounds options in Saudi Arabia 38:42 | How to get tickets tothe Saudi Pro League 41:50 | Lee's other international footy travels

    54 min

  3. 09/24/2025

    Ep 77 | A 15-Month Footy World Tour & Road Trip to the World Cup

    What if you built your own global football education—by leaving home, traveling across multiple continents, and going straight to the source? That's exactly what fellow footy traveler Andrew Baggaley, founder of Because Football Media did, as he spent more than a year exploring the globe, visiting football clubs, academies, and fan groups across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Whether you're a traditional Premier League fan, a lover of fan culture, or curious about how the global game shapes lives off the pitch, this episode is for you.   03:55 | Prototyping Because Football in Paris at PSG 07:26 | Heading to Ivory Coast for AFCON 10:32 | Connecting with Independiente, River Plate, & Racing Club 15:44 | Why Port Vale? And... who...is Port Vale exactly? 17:48 | Eastern Europe on the way to the Far East 20:23 | Comparing footy cultures across Southeast Asia 25:33 | What the world taught Andrew about American soccer 32:27 | The first ever soccer game in the US 35:49 | Coming Soon: The "Road Trip to the World Cup" Series   Check out our new YouTube channel! Don't miss our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

    39 min

  4. 09/11/2025

    Ep 76 | Far From Home on 9/11: An American at Anfield Remembers

    On September 11, 2001, American journalist and fellow footy traveler Ken McDonald was thousands of miles from home—at Anfield, watching Liverpool play Boa Vista in the Champions League. In this powerful conversation, Ken shares what it was like to learn about the 9/11 attacks while abroad, how Scousers responded, and the story behind an unforgettable, homemade tifo that made the highlight reels that night. He also reflects on what truly makes footy traveling so meaningful—and spoiler: it's not what you think.   00:29 | Ken's notable background 03:28 | Liverpool vs Boa Vista in the Champions League 07:57 | "The Kop stands with our friends in America" 15:49 | Flying back to America 20:05 | Why Ken doesn't process 9/11 like most Americans 24:17 | Traveling thousands of miles for 2 hours of sport? Worth it! 26:06 | Ken's sales pitch for lower league football 31:37 | Footy scran   Check out our new YouTube channel! Don't miss our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

    34 min

  5. 09/01/2025

    Ep 75 | World Cup NTK Series: World Cup 2026 - Phase 1 Ticket Application Window

    The first sales window for tickets to the 2026 World Cup consists of an application period that opens on September 10th and closes on September 19th (2025), and there's a major change to the process this time around. In this episode, we'll break down the 5 biggest things you need to know to be prepared to score tickets to the world's greatest sporting event!   00:00 | Catcing up on 2025 09:15 | Question 1: HOW does Phase 1 of World Cup 2026 ticket sales actually work? 12:20 | Question 2: WHEN does Phase 1 of World Cup 2026 ticket sales happen? 13:04 | Question 3: WHO can apply for World Cup 2026 tickets during Phase 1? 14:12 | Question 4: HOW does FIFA notify successful Phase 2 applicants? 14:52 | Question 5: WHEN can I actually buy World Cup 2026 match tickets? 20:13 | Predictions on further Phase 1 details and additional sales phases 26:35 | Recommendations for how to approach World Cup 2026 tickets sales   Check out our new YouTube channel! Sign up for our monthly newsletter for footy // travel news from every corner of the globe Follow us on Instagram: @footytravelers Join us on one of our trips (our next one is to Mexico City)!

    42 min

  6. 01/13/2025

    Ep 74 | 2024 Wrapped: Our Favorite Matches, Moments, & Travel Tips from Last Year

    When the dog bites, when the bee sti— Oooh! Eh ehm. Excuse us. Didn't see you there. Just warming up the vocal chords for our 2024 FAVORITE THINGS EPISODE!!! Comment on our recently pinned Instagram or X posts to let us know what you think about our picks, your favorites, or any footy travel suggestions you have for us in 2025! Foot(y)notes: Here are some of our favorite things worth checking out ASAP… Jimmy Rees Instagram Reel on "The Guy Who Decides the Premier League" "Once In a Lifetime" on YouTube (by Eli Mengem and Copa 90)  "Welcome to Wrexham" on FX The Mobile Passport app from US Customs and Border Patrol   02:43 | Mike has an offer 05:39 | Mike gives the rundown 07:33 | TOP 5 Matches & Travel Experiences - COLIN 15:02 | TOP 5 Matches & Travel Experiences - MIKE 25:47 | TOP 4 Media & Content Pieces - COLIN 35:31 | TOP 4 Media & Content Pieces - MIKE 46:53 | TOP 3 Travel Tips & Lessons Learned - COLIN 51:01 | TOP 3 Travel Tips & Lessons Learned - MIKE 58:10 | TOP 2 Things to look forward to in 2025 - MIKE 01:00:41 | TOP 2 Things to look forward to in 2025 - COLIN 01:03:49 | BIGGEST 2024 Takeaway - MIKE 01:08:25 | BIGGEST 2024 Takeaway - COLIN

    1h 14m

  7. 11/06/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS Episode | Honeymooning in the Seychelles with the Premier League trophy

    Think having your honeymoon covered by your favorite football club is nothing but a pipe dream? Well wake up and listen to this special BONUS episode, where we sit down with Matthew Eide from Far Away Football (check out Ep 73 if you missed his other incredible stories!) to reveal how he scored an all-expenses-paid getaway to the Seychelles, courtesy of Manchester City and their corporate powerhouse sponsor. And don't forget to leave us a rating and review if you're as amazed by his story as we are! Watch the story unfold, including the moment Matthew & Liz discover the Premier League Champions trophy in their suite.  *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! *JOIN US ON OUR NEXT TRIP* Head to FootyTravelers.com to learn more about our UK trip in November/December and how you can join us on all the footy travel adventure we have planned! Or hop directly onto the waitlist.

    9 min

  8. 10/30/2024

    Ep 73 | Buddhist monk ultras, WoSo in the Solomon Islands, & flying with an historic AFCON squad w/ Far Away Football's Matthew Eide

    Fellow footy travelers experience the game outside their hometowns all the time, but have you ever wondered what it's like to be a globe-trotting footy fan with multiple once-in-a-lifetime experiences? In this episode, Matthew Eide of Far Away Football takes us on an absolute journey! From a 10-goal spectacle in a Bhutanese stadium fit for a king, to two unforgettable footy moments in the Seychelles, this is one episode you won't want to miss. With professional soccer connections stretching as far as the Solomon Islands, Matthew might even have a surprise for you at the end of this one (wink wink)! Foot(y)notes: SPOILER ALERT: If you want to listen to the BONUS Episode with Matthew before its release next week, simply head to footytravelers.com/podcast If you're planning a trip to Bhutan, know before you go. Show your love for the global game with an Icarus FC kit of your own! Follow Thimphu City FC on Instagram and tell them that you heard about them in this episode.   *RATE & REVIEW* Wherever you're listening, be sure to hit 'Follow' or 'Subscribe', leave us a star-rating, and if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a proper review to let others know what you think of the show! PLUS YOU CAN WIN A FOOTY TRAVELERS SWAG BAG... If you email us (footytravelers@gmail.com) a screenshot of your recent review, and your mailing address, we'll send one your way!

    55 min
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About

Welcome to the Footy Travelers Podcast, the ultimate destination for football fanatics and globe-trotting adventurers! If you live and breathe the beautiful game and dream of exploring the world, this is the show for you. Through riveting stories, passionate discussions, and expert insights from special guests - whether you're a fan of the world's most popular sport or an avid traveler seeking inspiration for your next adventure - the Footy Travelers Podcast is your passport to the thrilling intersection of soccer and exploration.

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