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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