The Matildas will have to go the long way around to win the Women’s Asian Cup after Sunday’s 3-3 draw with South Korea meant they were unable to overhaul their opponent’s goal difference, and must now face the highest-ranked winner of China and North Korea. Joey Lynch (ESPN, The Guardian) returns as crunch time arrives for Joe Montemurro and his team.
Then to England, where Arsenal battled their way past Mansfield Town on Saturday to progress to the FA Cup quarter finals - which is, remarkably, likely third or even fourth on their present list of priorities. With a potentially legendary season coming to the boil - but still with plenty to do domestically and in Europe - Arseblog’s Andrew Mangan discusses the Gunners in depth.
Also on the agenda: Iran’s women’s team labelled ‘wartime traitors’ in a deeply troubling circumstance, Old Firm disgrace and more…
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Box2Box with Rob Gilbert, Michael Edgley and Willem van Denderen!
The US & Israel’s joint strikes on Iran have dominated global geopolitical headlines this week, and while not of primary concern, the ramifications for football are significant. Iran’s participation at the Men’s World Cup in the US, and the position Iran’s Women’s team find themselves in as they play the Asian Cup in Australia, are up for discussion with The Sports Ambassador Podcast’s Tracey Holmes.
Then to England, where Martin Tyler was behind the mic as Manchester United earned a sixth win in seven under Michael Carrick to move to third. Martin provides his wise counsel on United, Arsenal, and also England as it approaches sixty years since they won the World Cup, but dream again.
Also on the agenda: the Matildas kick off their home Asian Cup with a 1-0 win over the Philippines, Auckland make a statement and cut the margin on the Jets, and St Pauli look to be escaping relegation, once again.
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Box2Box with Rob Gilbert, Michael Edgley and Willem van Denderen!
The Women’s Asian Cup kicks off this weekend as the Matildas look to reach at least the semi-finals and secure qualification to next year’s World Cup. Taryn Heddo (10/Paramount+) will be calling the tournament and returns for a look at the Matildas, as well as heavy hitters China and North Korea.
Alen Stajcic managed both Australia and their first-up opponents Philippines at Asian Cups (and subsequent World Cups), and both to a high degree of success. He considers where expectations should lie, and reflects on his time with the Filipinas, which he recalls as his fondest in football.
Also on the agenda: Juan Mata’s Derby masterclass, Oluwayemi howler sparks the end for Chiefy, FIFA pledge to rebuild football in Gaza and plenty more…
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Box2Box with Rob Gilbert, Michael Edgley and Willem van Denderen!
The most even A-League Men’s season on record continues with Sydney FC & Auckland to meet in a crucial clash on Tuesday, while Brisbane find themselves off the pace after a stirring start to the season. Daniel Garb returns with football narrative aplenty - including Melbourne City’s form in Asia - while the race for Socceroos squads position is also stepping up with Mo Toure in career best form, but Lewis Miller facing an injury layoff.
Then to England where Tottenham and Nottingham Forest sacked their managers this week, with the relegation battle starting to take shape. Former The Age chief football writer Michael Lynch returns with the season about to turn for home.
Also on the agenda: Steve Rosich speaks, FIFA ticket allocations sees Australian interest drop off, and the potential Matildas squad for the Women’s Asian Cup.
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Canberra United pulled off another win at the death on Sunday to ensure they remain in the running for the A-League Women’s Premiership, currently just two points off leaders Melbourne City. Antoni Jagarenic joins the show for the first time to discuss just how they continue to defy the odds as a standalone team lacking the resources of their rivals.
Then to England, where Leicester City have had a six-point deduction imposed for breaching PSR rules and are now in major danger of relegation from the Championship. The Athletic’s Rob Tanner returns with the club now facing its starkest contrast yet to its title winning year, which is soon rising a decade.
Also on the agenda: Ante Juric’s Sydney FC reign over, Manchester City vs Liverpool latest instalment, FIFA ticket release and plenty more…
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Rado Vidosic has been warmly remembered across all corners of Australian football over the past week, following his passing last Tuesday aged 64. Erik Paartalu (10/Paramount+) reflects on their time together at Brisbane Roar, before wrapping what was yet another gripping round of A-League Men’s fixtures.
A fortnight has passed since the dramatic and somewhat unsavoury AFCON final, which saw Senegal defeat Morocco in Rabat. BBC Sport Africa’s Rob Stevens makes sense of the chaos of that evening & broader political drama in African football, and looks at how CAF’s nine (and potentially ten) qualified sides will fare at the World Cup in June.
Also on the agenda: China’s football corruption scandal, Benfica roll Real Madrid in Champions League epic, Canberra United turn up the heat in A-League Women’s & more…
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Mark Milligan’s Newcastle Jets have been the most thrilling side of the A-League Men’s season, and have now added a layer of consistency with four consecutive wins to start 2026. Friday’s 4-1 demolition of Wellington ensured the ‘Box-Office’ moniker has taken legitimate hold; Mark joins us again for a mid-season catch-up as excitement builds in the Hunter.
Since we last spoke with Jeremiah Oshan (Sounder at Heart), in November the Socceroos have been drawn to play the USA in his city of Seattle. Jeremiah returns as the World Cup draws nearer, but the overarching political climate shows no signs of settling.
Also on the agenda: United beat Arsenal as title race remains on, Burkitt hat-trick & loads more!

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Box2Box, with Michael Edgley & Willem van Denderen!
Nishan Velupillay’s return to form & fitness has coincided with Melbourne Victory’s rise up the A-League Men’s table, and placed him back in the frame for Tony Popovic’s World Cup squad. Nishan reflects on the ill-timed injury now behind him, and forecasts ambitions abroad.

Henry Winter (newly of Sports Illustrated) then discusses Michael Carrick’s first-up win (in his second stint) as Manchester United interim boss - over Manchester City, no less. Henry also speaks on Spurs’ ongoing woe, and the wild AFCON final which descended into chaos in Rabat.
Also on the agenda: the scenes and fallout from that final, Martin Kugeler appointed by Football Australia, Josh Cavallo’s discontent, and Damon Hanlin’s Mariners involvement.
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This week on Box2Box Stoppage Time, Michael Edgley and Willem van Denderen are joined by PFA Co-President Tameka Yallop, following the release of Ready For Takeoff - the Player’s Vision for the A-League Women.
Comprised of four key pillars, Ready For Takeoff advocates for the professionalisation of the ALW and an overhaul of the APL into an independent commission, among numerous other recommendations.
Tameka reflects on the stand taken by the 2015 Matildas squad - of which she was part - to demand the professionalisation of the national team, and why the union feels now is the time to force a similar result for Australia's domestic women's league. 

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Box2Box, with Rob Gilbert, Michael Edgley & Willem van Denderen!
Western United have secured a last-minute stay of execution at the Australian Tax Office, and now present as a possible returnee to the A-Leagues in the face of all expectation. But would the APL’s door swing open? Michael Lynch returns to assess the latest turn in the saga.
Then to Italy, where the Azzurri are awaiting their date with destiny that will define either a return to the World Cup, or a third dose of national torture. Adriano Del Monte speaks to their desperation to qualify, and to the (once-again) enthralling Serie A season unfolding before us.
Also on the agenda: AFCON quarter finals, FA Cup upsets and Mariners instability…
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