The FootPol Podcast

In this episode of The FootPol Podcast, Guy and Francesco explore how war is disrupting football in 2025, focusing on conflicts that are ongoing or escalated this year.

They examine:

• Israel’s war on Palestine and Palestinians, especially in Gaza
• The 12-day Israel–US conflict with Iran
• The Sudanese civil war
• The advance of Rwanda-backed M23 forces in eastern DR Congo

The discussion looks at how these wars affect domestic leagues, players, and fans—as well as the wider political repercussions for national teams. From FIFA’s silence on banning Israel to how a potential US travel ban under Donald Trump could affect Iranian and possibly Sudanese fans at the 2026 World Cup, this episode tackles the uncomfortable collision between politics and the pitch.

Despite the devastation, Guy and Francesco also reflect on how football persists as a source of community, resilience, and hope in even the darkest corners of conflict.

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Josh Bland, a research student at the University of Cambridge, to explore the enduring and evolving relationship between football and social class in England.

Josh traces the historic connection between the working class and the beautiful game, and unpacks how today’s football—especially in its commercialised Premier League form—challenges ideas of “authentic” fandom and identity. Are traditional ties to the game only found further down the football pyramid? And how is class itself understood in contemporary Britain, through the lens of football culture?

A thoughtful and timely conversation about heritage, identity, and how football reflects deeper shifts in British society.

In this episode, Francesco and Guy speak to Nora Beqaj, co-founder of Gals FC, football's community of non-competitive football for women and non-binary people. Nora explains how the game looks like when goals don't count, and how Gals FC is bringing football to a lot of people who would otherwise not play the game. 

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Spanish scholars Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and Aníbal Mesa López to explore the remarkable rise of women’s football in Spain. From La Roja’s 2023 World Cup triumph to the political fallout of the Rubiales scandal, this episode examines how the women's game is reshaping Spanish football and society.

They discuss the evolution of the domestic league, the tension between women’s clubs that are affiliated with men’s teams versus independent outfits, and how fans and players navigate those dynamics, the subject of which was an article which Fernando and Aníbal co-authored with two other colleagues earlier this year.

Whether you're tracking the legacy of Spain's World Cup win or the broader transformation of women’s football in Europe, this episode offers a deep, nuanced look into a pivotal national story with global implications.

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This summer brings two major football tournaments into the spotlight: the Club World Cup and the Women’s Euros. In this episode, Francesco and Guy unpack the global politics surrounding both competitions—from restrictive US visa policies affecting teams and fans, to the growing cultural and social impact of the women’s game. As always, it’s not just about the football, but what the game reveals about the world beyond the pitch.

In this special double episode, Francesco interviews Maurizio Affuso, founder of Rage Sport, sportswear brand that dresses 'sport popolare' (people's sport), anti-fascist clubs. Maurizio tells the story of how Rage Sport Started, the link with Clapton Community Football Club and why sport and politics are closely connected for RAGE sport.  

In questo doppio episodio speciale italiano/inglese, Francesco intervista Maurizio Affuso, fondatore di Rage Sport,  marchio d'abbigliamento che veste lo sport popolare, solidale e antifascista. Maurizio racconta l'incredibile storia di RAGE, il suo legame con Clapton Community Football Club, e perche' per RAGE lo sport e' politica. 

Co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with researcher, publisher and podcaster Andy Fuller—the mind behind Reading Sideways Press and Everyday Runners—for a deep dive into the work that he has previously done, on the complex world of Indonesian football.

From vibrant stadiums packed with passionate fans to the darker sides of the beautiful game—corruption, mismanagement, and the deadly tragedy at Kanjuruhan Stadium in 2022—Andy offers sharp insights into the development of football in Indonesia since the colonial period to the present, and how the relationship between the fans, the authorities and football can reflect some of the underlying politics of the country.

With the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals putting non-league football in the national spotlight at Wembley on Sunday 11 May—including a nail-biting outing for Guy’s own Aldershot Town FC—this week’s episode dives into the vibrant, volatile world of the English non-league game.

Guy is joined by freelance journalist and non-league connoisseur Paul Caulfield to unpack the unique ecosystem of clubs outside the English Football League. What makes non-league tick? What keeps it alive? And why do some clubs dream big, risking financial turmoil for promotion, while others settle for sustainability and a secure place in their local communities?

Whether you're a die-hard fan of grassroots football or just wondering what lies beyond the Premier League limelight, this episode is your guided tour through the passion, pitfalls, and paradoxes of non-league life.

This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Will Huddleston, who recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the early global success of Uruguayan football. Will unpacks how Uruguay — despite its small population — rose to international prominence as Olympic and World Cup champions in the 1920s and 1930, and how the national team’s triumphs became powerful political tools both domestically and abroad.

The conversation charts the evolution of Uruguayan football after its iconic 1950 World Cup victory, exploring its transformation under dictatorship and democracy. Will also discusses Uruguay's modern identity as a major exporter of footballing talent, and the ongoing story of the domestic game.

Along the way, the discussion tackles the political and cultural significance surrounding stars like Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, examines the controversies they've courted, and looks at the growing momentum behind the women’s game in Uruguay.

For lovers of Uruguayan football — or anyone fascinated by the intersection of sport, politics, and national identity — this is an episode not to miss!