The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices