The Sweeper

Lee Wingate and Paul Watson
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCCER
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Welcome to The Sweeper Podcast, the unique world football show covering all 211 FIFA countries and beyond. Join Lee Wingate and Paul Watson for the best headlines from across the football world, and news, stories, insight and interviews you won't find elsewhere. Whether you're into underdogs and upsets, ultras and fan culture, groundhopping and travel, derbies and rivalries, geography and geopolitics, or simply want a break from the relentless churn of big-money football, The Sweeper Podcast has you covered! Featured topics: FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, OFC, FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup qualification, UEFA EURO, UEFA Nations League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, CONCACAF Champions Cup, CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, CFU Club Shield, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, AFC Challenge League, OFC Champions League, OFC Professional League, Coupe de France, Greenlandic Football Championship, San Marino Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SweeperPod Video & audio editing: Ralph Foster & Tom Middler Graphic design: The Gentlemen Creatives, Vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2D AGO

    India’s Super League crisis, Poland’s utterly mad Ekstraklasa & Christmas Island's red crabs

    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/sweeperxmas25 John Duerden’s Substack newsletter: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com Ali Howarth’s AFCON flow chart: https://x.com/ahoworth97/status/2001293214012014953 Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:35 – India’s Super League crisis 08:56 – Other leagues in limbo worldwide 11:29 – Malaysia’s naturalisation scandal 21:47 – Gus Poyet’s Jeonbuk departure 27:17 – AFCON 2025 in Morocco 39:55 – The crazy Polish Ekstraklasa 44:25 – Mayhem & chaos across UEFA 48:00 – Christmas Island and red crabs 53:45 – On The Spot - The Apertura crown

    56 min

  2. DEC 9

    Quebec's Athletic Bilbao, Guadeloupe's 4-point per win rule & Norway's naked cup winner

    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 – Intro 00:47 – Canada's World Cup prospects 02:38 – The Vancouver Whitecaps story 07:24 – Relocation fears 11:35 – Vancouver FC's Champions Cup qualification 15:33 – The newcomers: FC Supra du Québec 17:50 – The departure: Valour FC 19:43 – The rebrand: Inter Toronto 24:33 – Four points per win in the Caribbean 28:15 – Bizarre football rules quiz 36:30 – Norway's season of surprises 48:14 – Debutant World Cup groups 50:38 – On The Spot

    53 min

  3. NOV 25

    Curacao & Haiti's World Cup heroics, Thun’s Swiss title tilt & Argentina’s invented champion

    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/@jonarnoldfc Substack newsletter: https://getconcacafed.substack.com   Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:51 – Curacao's World Cup miracle 13:17 – Haiti's triumph in face of adversity 23:47 – The own goal that saved Suriname 26:57 – The inter-confederation play-offs 28:35 – Steve McClaren's Jamaica exit 35:40 – Thun's extraordinary Swiss title tilt 39:48 – 2025: The year of the promoted club 41:48 – Sudanese duo's Rwanda move 45:19 – Trivia: Three-country football clubs 46:49 – Argentina's new championship title 51:07 – On The Spot

    53 min

  4. NOV 11

    Coquimbo Unido's treasured title, Mirassol's organic rise & the OFC Pro League soft launch

    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 Club Podcast: https://linktr.ee/thecopaclub Substack: https://thecopaclub.substack.com Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:48 – Chile’s pirate champions 08:53 – Brazil’s meteoric risers 18:47 – Argentina’s year of the underdog 21:03 – Bolivian identity fraud 25:09 – Sweepers On Tour 26:11 – OFC Pro League recap 28:02 – OFCPL: Launches & logistics 33:27 – OFCPL: Coaches & CEOs 37:15 – OFCPL: Rebrands & reserves 40:29 – OFCPL: Non-OFC neighbours 45:16 – On The Spot

    48 min

  5. OCT 31

    Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends

    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.com Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:10 – The good and bad of Latvian football 04:23 – The vanishing champion problem 12:11 – Memorable European nights 20:05 – The Baltic League grand plan 28:08 – Format, strengths & weaknesses 37:37 – The 2025 Latvian Cup final 47:20 – On The Spot

    50 min

  6. OCT 28

    Sweden’s Mjällby miracle, Lithuania’s warm welcome & Ireland’s marathon helicopter

    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 News Read the Baltic Football News Website Listen to the Baltic Football Podcast   Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:45 – The Mjällby miracle 09:37 – Kauno Žalgiris with Baltic Football News 14:08 – A trip to TransINVEST 29:45 – Ireland’s marathon helicopter 31:51 – Relegation for cup winners Vestri 32:50 – Final-day drama in Kazakhstan 34:23 – On The Spot

    36 min

  7. OCT 20

    Cape Verde: World Cup qualification, the LinkedIn footballer & donkey deliveries

    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 Howorth On The Whistle Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@otw_podcast Substack Newsletter: https://alasdairhoworth.substack.com/ Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:52 – Ali Howorth live from Praia 18:47 – Cape Verde shirt giveaway 20:00 – Diaspora and DMs 24:07 – Roberto Lopes voice note 26:37 – Best international recruitments 28:58 – World Cup’s smallest nations 35:14 – Domestic football and donkeys

    42 min

  8. OCT 14

    OUR GREENLAND ASSIST, San Marino's "pizza bakers" & Paks' power-plant ultras

    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 Links Watch Greenland's Football Heroes (in German) here Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:30 – Greenland: Assists & red cards 07:01 – Greenland: Insights from the camp 14:27 – San Marino: Double-digit demolition 20:23 – San Marino: The press conference 25:39 – Paks: The Athletic Bilbao of Hungary 29:12 – Football Manager save ideas 31:37 – Paks: Robbie Keane's many meltdowns 35:00 – Paks: The power plant ultra group

    39 min
See All (95)

About

Welcome to The Sweeper Podcast, the unique world football show covering all 211 FIFA countries and beyond. Join Lee Wingate and Paul Watson for the best headlines from across the football world, and news, stories, insight and interviews you won't find elsewhere. Whether you're into underdogs and upsets, ultras and fan culture, groundhopping and travel, derbies and rivalries, geography and geopolitics, or simply want a break from the relentless churn of big-money football, The Sweeper Podcast has you covered! Featured topics: FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, OFC, FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup qualification, UEFA EURO, UEFA Nations League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, CONCACAF Champions Cup, CONCACAF Caribbean Cup, CFU Club Shield, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, AFC Challenge League, OFC Champions League, OFC Professional League, Coupe de France, Greenlandic Football Championship, San Marino Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SweeperPod Video & audio editing: Ralph Foster & Tom Middler Graphic design: The Gentlemen Creatives, Vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Lee Wingate and Paul Watson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lee Wingate and Paul Watson
  • Show Website
    The Sweeper

You Might Also Like