Barcelona were set to play Villarreal in Miami in December. That’s now been cancelled. Today, we explain why. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Dermot Corrigan and Matt Slater Featuring: James Horncastle Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Kylian Mbappe the best striker in world football right now? Why is that sometimes you just need to stick a centre back up front to make the difference? Will we see a completely different Antony in La Liga to the one that struggled so much at Man Utd? Gary and Alex also look ahead to El Clásico this weekend, with Alex heading out to Madrid to cover the game for the show. Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at: therestisfootball.com https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our recent signing makes her debut on the podcast, as she sits down with hosts George Kelsey and Sam Cox. The midfielder joined the Club from Manchester United having helped England to glory at the European Championship in the summer. She discusses her favourite midfielders including the Spain and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta and our very own Yui Hasegawa. Clinton also discusses how sibling rivalry influenced her own style of play. And she also reveals which City team-mate she calls ‘Pepper’ and the reason for it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros bring on MLS Season Pass analyst Gio Savarese to preview the end of the MLS season and what to expect from Decision Day. Then, they’re joined by former MLS and USMNT goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who breaks down the USMNT’s recent performances and shares his thoughts on the ongoing goalkeeper battle. Later, the boys react to the latest soccer headlines, including Cape Verde’s World Cup qualification, Haji Wright’s standout showing, and more!

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Paul Watson and Ben Fisher as the Premier League returns this weekend. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/footballweeklypod. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FootballWeeklyPodcast

Adam Hurrey is joined on the midweek Adjudication Panel by Charlie Eccleshare and Nick Miller. On the agenda: Nick's first-hand account of Cape Verde's World Cup qualification glory, an important question about pitch-invading animals, Thomas Tuchel defies the manufactured outrage once again, the most “in the departure lounge” England player, football clichés as film titles and a long-overdue assessment of Richard Keys’ acting abilities. Meanwhile, the panel put together a barking, haranguing and roaring Communication XI. Sign up for Dreamland, the new members-only Football Clichés experience, to access our exclusive new show and much more: https://dreamland.footballcliches.com The Football Clichés Live tour continues - get your tickets here: https://tickets.footballcliches.com Visit nordvpn.com/cliches to get four extra months on a two-year plan with NordVPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lamine Yamal and Fermin López are athlete of FC Barcelona’s brightest young talents, representing the new generation of La Masia . Lamine Yamal, born in 2007, is an excellent winger known for his amazing skills and pace, fearless dribbling, and creativity. Already breaking records as one of the youngest goal scorers in La Liga and for Spain National Team. Fermin López, born in 2003, is a talented midfielder with a sharp eye for goal, incredible energy, and technical skills that make him a important part of Barça’s midfield area. Despite their age difference, Yamal and Fermin share a strong bond on and off the pitch, mutual respect, teamwork, and shared passion for Barça have turned their relationship into a genuine friendship, with both pushing each other to keep growing for the club’s future. DOWNLOAD

The United States Men’s National Team edged Australia 2–1 in a gritty international friendly, with Haji Wright delivering both goals to seal the win. Despite an early setback and a Christian Pulisic injury scare, Mauricio Pochettino’s men showed resilience and attacking intent. Is Matt Freese your in-pen-starter next summer in goal? Alexi Lalas & David Mosse also give updates on World Cup Qualifying around the globe: Cape Verde, South Africa and others punched their tickets, while England cruised behind Harry Kane and Ronaldo broke a qualifying record. Intro: (0:00)Matt Freese is your starter (3:55)Christian Pulisic injured (4:50)Cristian Roldan on 2026 World Cup roster (9:40)USYNT knocked out of U20 World Cup (23:26)2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Recap (26:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little later than usual, Musa and Ryan chat about some results from the weekend (03:59), including some WSL, Frauen Bundesliga and more. They then move onto some of the men’s World Cup qualifiers, beginning with Erling Haaland reaching 50 international goals in 46 games for Norway (07:58) and his inevitability as a striker. There’s also chat about how the expanded World Cup has had some positives, seeing sides like Cape Verde qualify for the first time (18:58), before wrapping up on a discussion about how important the qualifying campaigns of teams like England, Germany and Spain are when predicting their tournament form (24:34). Tickers are still available for our live show at the Southbank Centre in London on December 4th. Go get them here. For more podcasts, ad-free and in full, plus access to the Stadio Social Club and much more, you can become a Stadio member by signing up at patreon.com/stadio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. This week co-hosts Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson delve into Lionel Messi's early years at Barcelona and his rise to stardom. They explore Messi's journey from his initial signing to the club in 2000 to the early recognition of his talent by notable figures like Ronaldinho. The episode highlights Messi's challenges, including his growth hormone treatment and cultural adjustments as a young Argentine in Spain. Key moments such as his interactions with future stars like Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas, as well as his significant contributions to Barcelona's youth and first teams, which are discussed in detail. This episode covers his early setbacks, first team debut, and eventual triumphs, culminating in his standout performance at the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup. Join us as we uncover how Messi went from a promising youngster to an emerging superstar at Barcelona. 00:00 Introduction to the episode 00:40 Messi's Signing and Initial Challenges 01:15 Settling in Barcelona: Cultural and Personal Struggles 05:51 Integration and Early Successes 20:40 Political Chaos and Youth Team Dynamics 23:33 Messi's Rising Star and International Attention 27:06 First Impressions and Early Training 27:39 Debut and Initial Reactions 29:37 Contract Negotiations and Adjustments 32:48 National Team Dilemmas 38:31 Integration into Barcelona's First Team 46:27 Under-20 World Cup and Rising Stardom 51:18 Conclusion and Looking Ahead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.