World Cup News

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! It was the first matchday of the UCL knockout rounds and the games did not disappoint. Alexi and Mosse break down Fede Valverde and Real Madrid running Manchester City off the pitch, PSG breaking it open late vs Chelsea, Tottenham’s absolute nightmare vs Atletico Madrid, Bodø/Glimt continuing their Cinderella run and more! Afterwards, Alexi and Mosse look ahead to the weekend in MLS where James Rodriguez looks set to make his league debut vs Thomas Muller, Michael Bradley and his NYRB squad travel to Toronto where we may see Josh Sargent make his MLS debut as well plus a potential Cavan Sullivan sighting for Philadelphia. In #AskAlexi, Alexi does an unboxing of a classic USA jersey and unveils a melodic secret and in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse discuss the reports that Noahkai Banks will not be called up for the USA in the March window. Presented by Zillow #Zillow UCL Round of 16 matchday 1 breakdown: (3:11)MLS weekend preview: (21:44)#AskAlexi USA denim jerseys: (27:25)The Masked Singer reveal (32:59)One for the Road (39:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Round 2 of the Hana Bank K League 1 season, unbeaten Gwangju FC take on yet-to-win Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, unbeaten Bucheon FC 1995 host a returning-to-action Ulsan HD, yet-to-win but still unbeaten Daejeon Hana Citizen entertain Gimcheon Sangmu, while Pohang Steelers welcome Incheon United to the Steel Yard for their home opener in what will be seen as the pick of the action. Match of the Round: Unbeaten Start vs. Yet to Win Gwangju FC vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors In Round 3, unbeaten Gwangju FC will face Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who are still looking for their first win of the season. In the last five meetings between the two teams, though, Jeonbuk hold the advantage with two wins, two draws, and one loss. Home side Gwangju currently have a record of one win and one draw. In Round 1 against Jeju SK, they failed to secure victory despite having a man advantage after Italo's red card. However, in Round 2 against Incheon United, they found the back of the net three times, first through Choi Kyung-rok, followed by and a brace from Shin Chang-mu. Thanks to a penalty save by goalkeeper Kim Kyeong-min just before the final whistle and deep into added time, Gwangju secured a 3–2 win. Shin Chang-mu has been particularly impressive this season, recording two goals and five key passes and playing a central role in the team’s attack under new head coach Lee Jung-kyu. Gwangju will be aiming to maintain their early momentum, despite hosting last season's champions. Jeonbuk, on the other hand, have had a somewhat sluggish start to the season. They lost 3-2 at home to Bucheon FC 1995 in Round 1 and drew 1-1 with Gimcheon Sangmu in Round 2, meaning they are still searching for their first win of the season. Having conceded goals in both matches, defensive stability seems to be an issue following key departures from the back line. On a positive note, Lee Dong-jun has scored two goals this season, starting the new season as he ended the last. Midfielder Maeng Seong-ung has also been active on both ends of the pitch, recording a 93.9% pass success rate and 13 successful tackles. Jeonbuk will be looking to turn their early-season form around by claiming their first victory of the season. Both teams began the new season under new head coaches, making this the first meeting between Gwangju’s Lee Jung-kyu and Jeonbuk’s Chung Jung-yong. Watch live with English commentary: here Team of the Round: Rebellious Bucheon Bucheon FC 1995 drew 1–1 with Daejeon Hana Citizen in Round 2. After defeating defending champions Jeonbuk 3-2 on their K League 1 bow, they followed it up with apoint against last season’s runners-up Daejeon. Bucheon have been steadily collecting points with impressive performances early in their first season after promotion. The player leading Bucheon’s rise is Jefferson Galego. After registering two goals and one assist in the opening match, Galego also converted a penalty against Daejeon, bringing his tally to three goals and one assist in just two games. Last season, he scored six and assisted four in 28 K League 2 matches, including the promotion playoffs. This season in K League 1, he has shown even sharper attacking ability, raising expectations for a career-best year. Defensively, veteran Baek Dong-gyu anchors the back line, forming a compact defensive block with Hong Sung-wook and Patrick William, demonstrating solid organization. Veteran midfielder Yoon Bit-garam, who joined Bucheon this season, has also quickly integrated into the team and is contributing both offensively and defensively. With a strong team structure early in the season, Bucheon are determined to continue their unbeaten run in this round as well. This weekend they host Ulsan HD. Watch live with English commentary: here Player of the Round: Debut Goal Tranziska Pohang Steelers earned a point with a 1-1 draw against Gimcheon in the season opener. In that match, Jakob Tranziska stood out by scoring on his K League debut, signaling a promising season ahead. Tranziska is a forward standing at 189 cm tall, and despite being only 23 years old, he has experience of playing several European leagues, including Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, before joining Pohang this season. Coming on as a substitute in the second half against Gimcheon, Tranziska energized Pohang's attack with his work rate and link-up play, and scored a point-securing equalizer in the 55th minute. Tranziska is a versatile attacker capable of playing both as a central striker and as a winger. With Jorge Teixeira sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Tranziska’s quick adaptation has become a major boost for manager Park Tae-ha. Strong in duels and with bold dribbling, Tranziska will be one to watch this weekend. Watch live with English commentary: here 2026 K League 1 Round 3 Fixtures Gwangju FC vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors - Saturday, March 14, 2:00 PM [ENG] Daejeon Hana Citizen vs. Gimcheon Sangmu - Saturday, March 14, 4:30 PM [ENG] Bucheon FC 1995 vs. Ulsan HD - Sunday, March 15, 2:00 PM [ENG] Jeju SK vs. FC Seoul - Sunday, March 15, 2:00 PM Gangwon FC vs. FC Anyang - Sunday, March 15, 4:30 PM Pohang Steelers vs. Incheon United - Sunday, March 15, 4:30 PM [ENG] via K League press release Where to Watch Watch live on TV.KLeague.com, English commentary provided where indicated. View this post on Instagram A post shared by K LEAGUE International (@kleagueintl.official)

Hello Rank Squad! It's the second Champions League Takeaway of the week, looking back at Wednesday's action from the First Legs of the Round of 16 - where chaos reigned again and goals flowed freely. We start at the Bernabeu, where Fede Valverde's hat-trick carried Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Manchester City in by far their best performance under Alvaro Arbeloa, and where Los Blancos went back to looking like a side who could win this competition once again. Reigning Champions PSG also had an excellent night at home, although their 5-2 win over Chelsea was probably a bit of a flattering scoreline for Luis Enrique and co. A back-and-forth encounter gave way to a PSG onslaught in the final stages, with a little help from Chelsea keeper Filip Jörgensen, and some real quality from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who came off the bench to bag a brace and give them a significant advantage for the second leg at the Bridge. In Part Two we head first to Germany - where a very impressive Leverkusen were a little bit unlucky in some ways to eventually be pegged back for a 1-1 draw against Arsenal - with former Werkself hero Kai Havertz scoring the late equaliser from the spot on what would have been an emotional evening for him; and also to the Arctic Circle, where Bodø/Glimt's incredible campaign stayed right on course with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Sporting, in a performance which showcased the very best of what Kjetil Knutsen's side are capable off - some breathtaking football again. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jimbo is joined by Seb Stafford-Bloor, Pol Ballus, James Horncastle and Tom Williams to discuss all matters European football. The Champions League last 16 is here with Real Madrid v Man City, Newcastle v Barca, PSG v Chelsea and much more to look forward to. In Italy, Milan kept their title hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Inter as Atalanta get ready to face Bayern. And in France, the title race is back on too as Monaco beat PSG 3-1 on the Riviera and second placed Lens beat Metz 3-0. The relegation battle in Germany is hotting up, while in Spain, Real Madrid & Barca as the gap between the two remains at 4 points. Plus Madonna meets Celta Vigo. Produced by Lucy Oliva and Jesse Howard. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moment of the week (4.35) • PART 2: La Liga review - Barca 4 clear (13.10) • PART 3: Serie A review - Milan win the derby (28.45) • PART 4: Ligue 1 review - Monaco beat PSG (45.42) • PART 5: Bundesliga review - Relegation battle hots up (58.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musa’s on his travels, so there’s a bit of chat up top about him leaning into a Stadio bit. Then he and Ryan chat about this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round (07:17), which saw another amazing result for Port Vale, who knocked out Sunderland. Southampton also caused an upset, with a late win at Fulham, while Arsenal got past an impressive Mansfield side. They round up the rest of the results, which saw Liverpool, Chelsea, Leeds and Manchester City progress, before a quick trip to Germany (22:13) to shout out some results and chat briefly about the news that Julian Brandt will leave Dortmund at the end of the season. Then it’s time to turn the attention to the Derby della Madonnina (30:13), where Milan completed the double over Inter for the first time since 2010/11, reducing the lead at the top of Serie A to seven points, with ten games to go. Finally, there’s a Champions League look ahead (40:52), with the round of 16 first legs taking place this week. March is our spring Patreon push, so to get 30% off your first month, go to patreon.com/stadio and use promo code SPRING at checkout! 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.

Mike takes to the lectern as he guides us through the crushing beauty of Denmark's destruction of Uruguay. There's also Gordon Strachan's struggles with advertising boards, iconic branding of World Cups, Belgium get back on track while France and the USSR warm down into the knockouts. Iraq v Belgium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liOXMZwJkF8 West Germany v Scotland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr3WW3pjpXs Denmark v Uruguay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdI0DbGGbJw&t=4s Hungary v France - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0pBAeQuC0 USSR v Canada - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faxr6OSiGC4 If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, join our Nessun Dorma community chat, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast⁠⁠⁠ where you can subscribe for only $3.99 a month (less than 75p a week!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of the Euro Leagues, Steve Crossman, Guillem Balague, Archie Rhind-Tutt and Julien Laurens are joined by Sergei Palkin, CEO of Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk. Sergei talks about the challenges facing the club since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - finding somewhere to play their games, convincing foreign players to sign for them and dreaming of returning to the Donbas Arena. With less than 100 days to go until the World Cup, the panel also discuss how Germany, Spain and France are shaping up. TIMECODES 00:52 - Less than 100 days until the World Cup 04:33 - Germany and Nagelsmann 11:17 - Spain's injury worries 15:05 - France and Deschamps spoilt for choice 26:38 - Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin 27:23 - Running a football club in wartime 29:18 - The role of sport in Ukrainian's lives 31:04 - Using stadiums as shelters 33:12 - Convincing foreign players to sign 37:17 - Trying to maintain the academy 40:20 - Dreams of returning to the Donbas Arena

Former Managing Director of Umbro Ireland, Jonathan Courtenay joins Ger Gilroy and Colm Boohig in studio to show off just some of the football jerseys he has gathered and collected over the years, including some signed by the greats and some that he designed himself for the Republic of Ireland National Team. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball This week our live commentary game comes from Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers look to get their season back on track as they welcome Derry City to the capital. Kick off is at 8 o’clock on Friday and Stephen Doyle will be joined by Richie Towell in the commentary booth for that one, with build-up starting on Off The Ball on Newstalk and the GoLoud App from 7pm.

Hello Rank Squad! We thought that with less than 100 days to go now until the World Cup begins this summer, it was time to start to take a look at the tournament in earnest - and the storylines on the pitch that are set to dictate just how this tournament is remembered from a footballing perspective. We split that into three parts. Firstly, we take a look at three of the favourites to win the tournament - holders Argentina, as well as France and Spain - and the narrative threads behind each of their campaigns to come. We look at Argentina's attempt to be the first nation to go back-to-back since Brazil in the 1960's, France hoping to give Didier Deschamps the send-off his illustrious managerial tenure deserves, and Spain looking to begin a new dynasty by backing up their 2024 Euros with a World Cup two years later, just as their Golden Generation did in 2012 and 2014. Then in Part Two, we look at the managers who have traded their club loyalties for a shot at winning the most illustrious tournament of them all at international level - looking at England under Thomas Tuchel, Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti, the USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino, and Germany under Julian Nagelsmann. And finally, in Part Three, we dive into the four teams who have qualified for the first time ever - Cape Verde, Curaçao, Uzbekistan and Jordan - examining their stories, the background, and the manner in which we're expecting them to show up to the party. It's Ranks! And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon? (http://patreon.com/ranksfc) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With 100 days to go until the 2026 World Cup, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Marcelo Balboa dig into the biggest questions facing Mauricio Pochettino. The crew tip their caps to two American centurions (05:38) - our very own Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore - and identify the biggest areas of concern heading into the tournament: goalkeeper uncertainty and center back depth (09:18). All eyes are on the Noahkai Banks situation - could the Augsburg phenom slip through the cracks with Germany also in the picture (18:10)? Then it’s a wide-ranging Americans Abroad check-in (29:20), including a debate over whether Mauricio Pochettino brings three or four strikers (30:35). Weston McKennie’s new Juventus contract extension (36:39) sparks a conversation about mindset and motivation, and the crew also highlights the Americans still alive in European competitions (47:22). Finally, MLS Matchday 2 delivers plenty to unpack (55:13): Charlie vents about New England’s rough start (58:55), RBNY and RSL continue to trust their young talent (1:02:52), and San Jose offers a pathway for college standouts (1:04:25). Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠ for all the latest in ⁠sportsbook reviews⁠ and ⁠sportsbook promos⁠ for ⁠betting on soccer⁠ For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠ Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, EFL Championship, EFL League Cup, Carabao Cup, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠ For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠ And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimbo is joined by Pol Ballus, James Horncastle, Seb Stafford-Bloor and Tom Williams to discuss the latest football around the continent. In Germany, Bayern leave it late to beat Dortmund and all but end the Bundesliga title race. In Spain, Lamine Yamal's first hat-trick puts pressure on Madrid who are yet to play. Meanwhile, the Olympico derby in France didn't disappoint with Marseille coming back to beat Lyon 3-2 in stoppage time and in the Stadio Olimpico, Juve also fought back to draw 3-3 with Roma. Plus press conference etiquette and some questionable impersonations. Produced by Jesse Howard and Lucy Oliva. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moment of the week (0.40) • PART 2a: Bundesliga review - Bayern go 11 clear (11.50) • PART 3a: Serie A review - Thriller at the Olimpico (25.55) • PART 4a: La Liga review - Yamal’s first hat-trick (42.45) • PART 5a: Ligue 1 review - Marseille comeback in the Olimpico (54.20) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday's Football Daily, Phil Egan has news of the Premier League, the Champions and the League of Ireland. Dublin derby preview as Bohemians host fierce rivals Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park, with live commentary coverage. Full breakdown of tonight’s crucial fixtures across the League of Ireland Premier and First Divisions. Major sanctions handed to Drogheda United following supporter damage to facilities during their clash with Dundalk. Government update as Patrick O'Donovan confirms funding pause on artificial pitches has been lifted. Key early-season pressure building on several clubs as title hopefuls look to find form. Connacht derby preview and squad updates as western rivals prepare for a crucial showdown. Six English clubs discover their knockout path in the UEFA Champions League last-16 draw. Injury concerns grow around Evan Ferguson ahead of Ireland’s vital World Cup playoff against Czechia. Contract boost for Brentford as head coach Keith Andrews commits his long-term future. European roundup as Celtic secure a historic win in Germany but exit Europe on aggregate. Progress in continental competition for Nottingham Forest despite a nervy second-leg defeat to Fenerbahce. Team news concerns for Liverpool as Florian Wirtz faces time on the sidelines. Relegation fears intensify for Wolves as they prepare for a must-win clash. Top-four ambitions continue for Aston Villa as they aim to strengthen their Premier League position. Expert analysis, manager reactions, and everything you need ahead of a packed weekend of football at home and abroad. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Ger, Shane, Mick and David are back for another week of Final One Standing where they try to predict the outcomes of this weekends Premier League fixtures. Final One Standing on Off The Ball is brought to you by William Hill 18+ see gamblingcare.ie

Ger, Shane, Mick and David are back for another week of Final One Standing, where they try to predict the outcomes of this weekends Premier League fixtures. The lads are also joined from Lee Phelps from William Hill. Final One Standing on Off The Ball is brought to you by William Hill 18+ see gamblingcare.ie

After another successful midweek in the Champions League, The Soccer Sharps betting podcast returns to cover the upcoming weekend in European football. Today's show covers some of the biggest matches taking place in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and La Liga. Our hosts and handicappers, Devin and Jordan, offer their expert insight and analysis as they preview each match. The show closes out with our best bets and Official Plays. 00:00 Introduction 03:43 BvB Dortmund vs Bayern Munich 12:37 Arsenal vs Chelsea 20:14 Leeds United vs Manchester City 27:00 Liverpool vs West Ham United 36:06 Manchester United vs Crystal Palace 41:22 Roma vs Juventus 46:29 Barcelona vs Villarreal 49:52 Official Plays 👉 Drop your picks in the comments! 👍 Like this video and subscribe to the channel so you never miss a winner! 📈 Let’s crush these plays and make some money together! ⚽ JOIN OUR DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/cx7WJKWabQ 👀 VIEW OUR P&L SPEADSHEETS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jca0dVIW7FumZ27VEcyhdre0Ke5gh7C6?usp=sharing 📧 EMAIL US: [email protected] ❤️ FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS: ✅ X: @TheSoccerSharps ✅ TikTok: thesoccersharps ✅ Instagram: @TheSoccerSharps ✅ Bluesky: @thesoccersharps.bsky.social The Soccer Sharps podcast is a part of The Hooligan Soccer Network. https://hooligan-soccer.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ger Gilroy was joined in studio by the Irish football writer, Richard Fitzpatrick, to discuss his brilliant new book, 'HH: Helenio Herrera – Football's Original Master of the Dark Arts'. What is in part a study of a footballing icon from the early days of the European Cup, Richard's book explores regions of Herrera's life that extended well beyond the pitch itself. From his relentless philandering to his larger-than-life personality, his violent temper to his application of mind games that informed Jose Mourinho's approach in later decades, it is a remarkable story superbly told in this new book.

Jimbo is joined by Pol Ballus, James Horncastle, Tom Williams and Seb Stafford-Bloor for a Totally European extravaganza. The Champions League play-off second legs await with the Italian teams in trouble and Benfica's Prestianni provisionally suspended by UEFA. In Spain, advantage Barca as Real Madrid lost to Osasuna for the first time in 15 years and Hansi Flick's side made it 18 wins in a row at home, seeing off Levante 3-0. All change in France with Monaco coming from behind to beat leaders Lens 3-2 and PSG defeated Metz to go back on top. Inter are running away with it in Serie A as Milan lost to Parma and the Nerazzurri went 10 points clear with a 2-0 win at Lecce. And in Germany, Harry Kane is getting ever closer to beating Lewandowski's goal scoring record in the Bundesliga as Bayern go 8 clear. Plus James' Florentine food adventures. Produced by Lucy Oliva and Jesse Howard. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moment of the week (0.40) • PART 2a: Serie A review - Inter 10 points clear (10.18) • PART 3a: La Liga review - Real shocked by Osasuna (25.02) • PART 4a: Bundesliga review - Bayern go 10 points clear (36.34) • PART 5a: Ligue 1 review - PSG back on top (46.45) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An in-depth show about the U.S. men's national soccer team, the players who could one day make it better, and American soccer in general.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by David Wilson, Eve Conway and Shane Hannon for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League. They are also joined by Lee Phelps of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by David Wilson, Eve Conway and Shane Hannon for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League. They are also joined by Lee Phelps of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Martyn is joined by Gary and debutant John Mackay get stuck into a bumper couple of days. Scotland make an unfortunate start against the Danes after Uruguay set out their stall against a West German side in a state of disarray. There are a couple of heavyweight clashes with some pulled punches and much more. Paraguay v Iraq - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8GCTxga8jw Uruguay v West Germany - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDOY6IR8u5Y Scotland v Denmark - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfftlr9qtrQ Italy v Argentina - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHGSoYFuHow France v USSR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uNEIWX5-z8 South Korea v Bulgaria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWxaRXvEB28 If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, join our Nessun Dorma community chat, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast⁠⁠⁠ where you can subscribe for only $3.99 a month (less than 75p a week!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Football writer, Graham Hunter, reacts to, alongside Ger Gilroy & Vinny Perth, the controversy surrounding last night’s fixture between Benfica & Real Madrid. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Jimbo is joined by the Euro crew Tom Williams, James Horncastle, Pol Ballus and Seb Stafford-Bloor to discuss the latest from football across the continent. The Champions League play-offs are here: Tuesday night sees Galatasaray vs Juve, Benfica vs Real Madrid, Dortmund vs Atalanta and Monaco vs PSG + Wednesday is Qarabag vs Newcastle, Bodø/Glimt vs Inter, Brugge vs Atléti + Olympiacos vs Leverkusen. All change at the top of Ligue 1 with managerless Rennes beating PSG 3-1, which meant that Lens go top after racking up their biggest ever league win, 5-0 at Paris FC. It was a big weekend in Italy with Inter edging a chaotic Derby D’Italia and Napoli coming back from two Donyell Malen goals to draw 2-2 with Roma. The top 4 all won in Germany and in Spain, TAA is back and got an assist as Real beat Sociedad 4-1 to make it 8 wins in a row. Plus Vermut/Vermouth and Pol's Barca 'sauce'. Produced by Lucy Oliva and Jesse Howard. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moment of the week (6.24) • PART 1a: Champions League playoffs (15.20) • PART 2a: Serie A review - Inter win Derby D’Italia (24.25) • PART 3a: La Liga review - Barca battered in the Copa Del Rey (37.03) • PART 4a: Ligue 1 review - Lens go top (49.30) • PART 5a: Bundesliga review - Top 4 all win (1.04.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ger Gilroy was joined in studio by the Irish football writer, Richard Fitzpatrick, to discuss his brilliant new book, 'HH: Helenio Herrera – Football's Original Master of the Dark Arts'. What is in part a study of a footballing icon from the early days of the European Cup, Richard's book explores regions of Herrera's life that extended well beyond the pitch itself. From his relentless philandering to his larger-than-life personality, his violent temper to his application of mind games that informed Jose Mourinho's approach in later decades, it is a remarkable story superbly told in this new book. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Apologies for the late show today, but we’re finally here to chat all about another big weekend in the Premier League title race, which saw Manchester City come from behind to win away at Liverpool, for only the second time under Pep Guardiola. After shout outs for the WSL, PSG v Marseille and a few other results (04:21), Musa and Ryan head to Anfield (11:23), which saw another unbelievable free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai give Liverpool the lead, a great comeback and the world being cruelly robbed of one of the silliest goals of the modern era. That meant the gap was the same at the top as before the weekend, following Arsenal’s impressive 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday (30:52). Elsewhere, Aston Villa dropped more points, Manchester United may never lose again, Crystal Palace ended their winless streak and Cole Palmer scored another first half hat-trick. In Germany, Bayern and Dortmund teased a title race (48:13) and St. Pauli got a much needed win. Finally, there’s a round-up of La Liga and a bit of chat about Ademola Lookman’s move to Atlético Madrid (53:12). A reminder: Southbank Centre live show! March 1st! With special guest Nish Kumar! Go get your tickets 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 a time-travel podcast diving into football’s greatest almost moments — the transfers that came within touching distance of reality, Richie McCormack's Sliding Doors. Sliding Doors goes beyond rumours and gossip to uncover deals that were genuinely on the table Each episode explores how one decision could have reshaped clubs, careers, and the entire football landscape From whispered negotiations to official bids, this is the anatomy of football’s biggest “what ifs” Think Michael Laudrup to Liverpool, Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn… and yes, Ronaldo to Rangers This episode takes us back to 1964, newly promoted Hannover 96 came astonishingly close to signing Pelé — the greatest player the game has ever seen — for the infant Bundesliga. As club legend Friedel Schicks moved toward retirement, a replacement was quietly discussed that sounded almost unbelievable: Pelé was supposed to succeed him at the heart of Hannover’s team. The man pushing the idea wasn’t a scout or an agent, but board member Hans-David Ziegra — an ice-cream machine salesman with strong Brazilian connections and a past far darker than most in German football. Ziegra’s history included Nazi Party membership, intelligence work across Europe, post-war CIA scrutiny, and decades-long ties to Brazil, all of which helped fuel the extraordinary attempt to lure Pelé to Germany. Hannover could afford the move — Bundesliga wages soon eclipsed what Pelé earned at Santos — but Pelé’s status as a national treasure made any transfer politically and culturally explosive. With Brazil under military rule in 1964, Pelé chose to stay, later admitting talks with Hannover had taken place but that leaving Santos at such a volatile moment was never realistic. Pelé never played in the Bundesliga, and German football went another way — but this forgotten near-miss invites one tantalising question: how differently might football history look if the greatest player of all time had arrived in Germany at the dawn of the Bundesliga? Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Michael McCarthy and David Wilson for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League. They are also joined by Alex Dunne of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Michael McCarthy and David Wilson for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League. They are also joined by Alex Dunne of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Join Matthew Brennan, Ben Symes and David Wilson as they delve into the biggest stories this week in the world of Irish football. A full Irish EFL-focused transfer roundup, including moves for Johnny Kenny, Andrew Moran, Sammie Szmodics, Aidomo Emakhu, and Jacob Devaney Should Kenny have chosen Germany, or is League One his best bet of making March's squad? What these transfers say about the current market — and why so many Irish-linked players are heading to England and Scotland A quick “Green Scene” run-through, tying the transfer chatter into the wider Ireland picture A deep dive on James McClean after alleged abuse from Rovers fans — is this becoming a recurring issue? Ireland midfield check-in: Browne flying, Knight struggling, Molumby off the pace, Taylor steady What Moran’s move means, Cullen’s absence, Lawal’s role, and whether Azaz is heading deeper And as ever, we are looking for your inspiration to help us, fancy getting in touch? You can do so by emailing [email protected] Contact us on socials @offtheball across all our platforms. Or if you want to contact us directly message the @offtheball.football account on Instagram. And as ever, we are on WhatsApp on 087 9 180 180. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

While most fans were focused on the 1974 World Cup, George Best was playing in South Africa. This piece was written by Luke Alfred for issue 14 Banned from international competition and unable to watch the 1974 World Cup on television, South African club owners devised a cunning plan. In a bid to boost home […] The post Best in Show appeared first on The Blizzard.

Sanjay Sujanthakumar joins Belz and Vince to talk through Poch on Weah on World Cup ticket prices, plus a big week to recap for Malik and Wes, and much more as the countdown continues.

Iconic soccer commentator Derek Rae joins the show to discuss his remarkable journey from growing up in Scotland to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in world football and the voice of EA FC. Derek breaks down why pronouncing players’ names correctly is about respect and identity, shares behind-the-scenes stories from his path into broadcasting and gaming, and offers sharp insight into global soccer culture—from MLS and Bundesliga to Scotland, Germany, and the American soccer fan experience.

Bushnell, who writes for the Athletic, joined to talk about the high prices of World Cup tickets, Cindy Parlow Cone's expansive and thus far largely trouble-free tenure as USSF president, why Weston McKennie's spot on the field under Poch is such an important matter, Alex Freeman's move to Villareal, and lots more, even Richie Ledezma's switch to Mexico.

Ger Gilroy, Colm Boohig & Dara Smith-Naughton bring you all of the latest sport thing news the morning after an absolutely outrageous end to the league phase of the Champions League - with a certain Jose Mourinho stealing the headlines once again! There is also chat around the loss of both Bundee Aki & Hugo Keenan ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations opener this day next week… Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Former LOI boss, current member of the Wexford hurling management ticket & head of games at Laois GAA - Shane Keegan - joins Ger Gilroy & Colm Boohig on the line to talk all things grassroots football in Ireland, following on from this weekend’s Football Saturday conversation! Shane makes the case as to why a compulsory switch to summer football is not quite as simple as it seems & may cause more problems than perhaps are being recognised… Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Ralph Priso and OIiver Larraz interviews; CPL to trial new offside rule; IFAB law changes; will there be a World Cup boycott?; Canada Soccer A to Z

Weston McKennie's coach says he'd be a great central striker, Reyna out with a muscle strain, Tillman on the bench for a spell here, Weah assist, Big Pat scores but Vince is unpersuaded, Tanner and Johnny getting starts in the midfield, and the St. Pauli president floats boycotting the World Cup, which brings to mind Trump, which brings to mind the senseless bloodshed in Minneapolis.

Will send on a title for the full piece shortly, but here's a description that'll work for both: Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Ben Symes and David Wilson for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League, after a chaotic Champions League week. They are also joined by Lee Phelps of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Ben Symes and David Wilson for this week’s Final One Standing, looking ahead to an action-packed weekend of the Premier League, after a chaotic Champions League week. They are also joined by Lee Phelps of William Hill. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Charlie Boehm joins Belz to talk about Richards and the mess at Palace, Brenden Aaronson up from the ashes, Big Pat's distinct skill-set, E.B. White on Gio Reyna, Paredes returns brightly, Cardoso unconvincing to Belz, Pellegrino Matarazzo beats Barca, and Charlie was moved by the African Cup of Nations final.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Ben Symes and Mick McCarthy for this week’s Final One Standing, as the Premier League returns following a weekend break for the FA Cup, and there’s the small matter of the Manchester Derby to discuss. Lee Phelps from William Hill also joins the lads to preview the weekend’s action. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Ger Gilroy is joined in studio by Ben Symes and Mick McCarthy for this week’s Final One Standing, as the Premier League returns following a weekend break for the FA Cup, and there’s the small matter of the Manchester Derby to discuss. Lee Phelps from William Hill also joins the lads to preview the weekend’s action. The Final One Standing on Off The Ball with William Hill.

Jimbo’s joined by Seb Stafford-Bloor, Pol Ballús & James Horncastle for a deep-dive into all the latest action and headlines from across the continent. There’s only one place to start - and the news that broke late on Monday afternoon that Xabi Alonso has been sacked as Real Madrid head coach - and replaced by the club’s reserve team coach Alvaro Arbeloa. The Athletic’s Guillermo Rai joins us for the immediate reaction to the news which followed the 3-2 defeat by dear friends Barcelona in the Supercopa on Sunday evening. There’s drama of a title race variety in Italy - where the hunt for the Scudetto was reignited once again as Inter, Milan and Napoli all dropped points to open the door for chasers Roma and Juventus. And in Germany - the Bundesliga returned from the Winterpause in style with goals galore across the weekend including Bayern putting EIGHT past Wolfsburg, while Frankfurt and Dortmund played out a 3-3 thriller on Friday night. Vincent Kompany’s side couldn’t win the title by a record-breaking points margin, could they? All that plus the latest from the Coupe de France as Endrick marks his debut for Lyon with a winning goal, reminiscing on the ‘Mohawk Trident’ - and dramatic snowscapes in Hamburg. Produced by Lucy Oliva. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moments of the weekend - pencils, dodgy banners and fairytale ascents (00.45) • PART 2: La Liga review - Alonso out! Arbeloa in! With Guillermo Rai (12.45) • PART 3: Serie A review - Yet another title race turn (27.30) • PART 4: Ligue 1 review - Endrick’s goal on debut and tapestries… (45.05) • PART 5: Bundesliga review - Bayern’s total dominance and intriguing Kovac (48.15) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! We reveal our brand new studio look by discussing Ricardo Pepi’s arm injury, Toronto FC’s bid for Josh Sargent and Macclesfield FC’s historic FA Cup victory over Chris Richards and Crystal Palace. We also break down Weston McKennie scoring for Juventus AGAIN and what the next step in his career might look like. After, Alexi and Mosse discuss Barcelona’s triumph over Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa and Xabi Alonso’s subsequent sacking. In #AskAlexi, Alexi recaps his time at the Mac Hermann award show, answers how Michael Bradley will do as New York Red Bulls manager, and discusses the news that the German national team will be staying at Wake Forest for the upcoming World Cup. One for the Road ends the show with Alexi and Mosse talking about the current state of affairs in Iran as it pertains to the World Cup. Use my code for $30 off your next order of World Cup Tickets on SeatGeek*:https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/SOTU Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $30discount, Min. $200 Purchase Intro (0:00)U.S. Abroad: Pepi out, Sargent to MLS? (6:10)#AskAlexi: Michael Bradley slam-dunk hire for NYRB? (37:00)One For The Road: Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (47:47) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ger Gilroy, Arthur O'Dea, Dara Smith-Naughton & David Wilson react LIVE to Ruben Amorim's sacking as Manchester United boss. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join Off The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Jimbo’s got helpers James Horncastle, Seb Stafford-Bloor & Pol Ballús alongside him for some pre-Christmas cheer of a European variety. We begin in La Liga, where it’s as you were at the top of the table with Barca navigating the tricky trip to Villarreal to come away with all three points to keep their advantage at the top of the table. Real’s win over Sevilla helps ease the pressure on Xabi Alonso - but is Vini Jr’s future in more serious doubt? The shock scoreline across the continent was perhaps recorded in Florence, where having gone 210 days without a Serie A win - Fiorentina only went and put five past Udinese! Plus, Lois Openda ended his Juve goalscoring drought in their win over Roma to make things even tighter at the top. We touch base with events in France, Portugal, Turkey and the Netherlands - including the mounting troubles for Robin van Persie, Coupe de France storylines and lone Portuguese superfans! And in Germany - Bayern Munich continued their remarkable form with a 4-0 thrashing of Heidenheim - featuring Harry Kane’s 100th goal involvement in record quick time. Is the sky the limit for Vincent Kompany’s side this season? Produced by Lucy Oliva. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Moments of the weekend (00.45) • PART 2: La Liga review - Mbappe equals CR7 as Barca pass Villarreal test (07.15) • PART 3: Serie A review - Fiorentina win a game… no, seriously! (18.40) • PART 4: Elsewhere in Europe - Coupe de France storylines & RvP under pressure (36.03) • PART 5: Bundesliga review - the Bayern machine rolls on (40.55) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Wilson joins Ger Gilroy and Colm Boohig to review the weekend's Premier League action including the current outlook on a mixed run of form for Manchester United as well as Thomas Frank's future with Tottenham Hotspur Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

Football Writer Guillem Balague joins Ger Gilroy at a convenient time as he talks about his new book: Rise of the Villans: Inside Unai Emery's Aston Villa Revolution at a time when Aston Villa are bringing themselves into contention for the Premier League title. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

The Final One Standing is back and Ger Gilroy is joined this week by Mick McCarthy, Shane Hannon and Ben Symes to unpack the upcoming fixtures in the Premier League and who they are picking to stay in the game. Final One Standing is brought to you by Off The Ball. 18+ see gamblingcare.ie

Granny Rule in World Cup 2026 Commentary By: Derek Ross International football is supposed to be the purest expression of national pride. Eleven men or...