World Football

Katie Smith is in Melbourne, where Sweden have knocked out the back-to-back defending world champions USA in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Katie speaks to jubilant Sweden fans and dejected USA supporters. A relieved Björn Nordling from SVT reflects on Sweden's victory and looks ahead to their quarter final against Japan, while Emily Olsen, soccer editor for The Athletic, stops by to discuss where it all went wrong for the USA.

Elsewhere in Sydney, Mani Djazmi spoke to both managers after the Netherlands’ 2-0 win over South Africa in their last 16 encounter.

Image: Sweden's forward Lina Hurtig and teammates celebrate their win during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup round of 16 football match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne on August 6, 2023. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

2011 winners Japan beat Norway 3-1 to make it through to the quarter finals of the World Cup. Japanese sports writer Masujima Midori joins Maz Farookhi to discuss the teams performance.

The Athletic's Laia Cervelló Herrero also stops by to chat all things Jorge Vilda as Spain thrash Switzerland 5-1 to become the first team in the last eight.

Katie Smith is in Melbourne speaking to United States captain Alex Morgan as the World Champions arrive in Australia for their knockout match against Sweden.

Photo: Risa Shimizu of Japan and West Ham United celebrates after scoring her sides first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Japan and Norway at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 5, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In today's episode, Mani Djazmi, Maz Farookhi and Katie Smith reflect on Morocco's miraculous progression to the last 16 at the Women’s World Cup.

Mani chats to two-time World Cup-winner with Germany, Nadine Angerer, about the country’s shock elimination, while the team preview all eight round of 16 matches.

Former Switzerland international Tatjana Haenni drops by to talk about Switzerland's chances, while Mani speaks at length to the Netherlands manager Andries Jonker about the influence of Louis van Gaal and his side's epic travels across the Tasman.

Photo: Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)

Katie Smith and Mani Djazmi are in Melbourne as Jamaica make history by becoming the first men's or women's Caribbean team to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup.

Jamaican journalist Wayde Brown from Irie FM joins us at the Rectangular Stadium to discuss the scale of the Reggae Girlz' achievement and how it will be received back home. Brazilian journalist Ricardo Setyon also stops by to discuss Brazil's shock elimination and whether this is the end for Brazilian superstar Marta.

There was more history making across the Tasman in New Zealand, where Maz Farookhi has been in wintry Wellington as the African champions South Africa have reached the last 16 for the first time after beating Italy 3-2. We hear from Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellies about their historic achievement.

Image: Deneisha Blackwood and Vyan Sampson of Jamaica celebrate advancing to the knockout stage after the scoreless draw in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Jamaica and Brazil at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Maz Farookhi is in Auckland as the four-time winners of the World Cup, the United States, are into the knockout stages of the World Cup following a 0-0 draw with Portugal.

Maz speaks to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald, New York Times World Editor Andrew Das and Tatjana Haenni, the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chief Sporting Director, about why the USA have found this tournament so difficult and what areas they need to improve going forward.

Image: Alex Morgan of USA and San Diego Wave during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between Portugal and USA at Eden Park on August 1, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Katie Smith and Mani Djazmi are joined by not one, not two, but three former Australian internationals in the shape of Mark Schwarzer, Amy Chapman and Alicia Ferguson to reflect on the Matildas’ 4-0 thrashing of Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne to progress to the last 16 as group winners. We also hear from former Colombia international Vanessa Cordoba following Colombia’s shock 2-1 win over two-time world champions Germany in Sydney on Sunday.

Photo: Steph Catley of Australia (C) celebrates her goal with her teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Credit: Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

New Zealand become the first ever hosts of the Women’s World Cup to exit at the group stage, after their 0-0 draw with Switzerland. Maz Farookhi speaks to former Football Fern Bex Sowden about New Zealand’s elimination from the tournament and what this means for football in the country.

Former winners Norway are the second team to make it through following their 6-0 thrashing of Philippines. Norwegian journalist Caroline Simonsen explains why the national team blow so hot and cold.

Mani Djazmi is in Brisbane as star Australia forward Sam Kerr says she’ll definitely be playing in their crunch match against Olympic champions Canada on Monday. Former Australia international Amy Chapman chats to Mani about the significances of this news. Mani is joined by Maz Farookhi and Katie Smith to discuss Kerr and the increase of injuries at this World Cup as England’s Keira Walsh becomes the latest player to pick up a knock at this tournament.

Mani Djazmi reflects on Nigeria's shock 3-2 victory over hosts Australia, while Maz Farookhi is in Wellington with reaction to an entertaining 1-1 draw between the USA and the Netherlands, in a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final.

After Nigeria’s win against Australia, a side 30 places above them in the rankings, Mani hears from their jubilant fans on the streets of Brisbane accompanied by the soundtrack of celebratory drums.

The Guardian’s Jeff Kassouf and Dutch journalist Jeroen van Barneveld join Maz in New Zealand to bring you the perspective from the two 2019 World Cup finalists after their group stage meeting. Also hear from the supporters of both nations.

Image: Osinachi Ohale and Onome Ebi of Nigeria celebrate the team's 3-1 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)

It’s a tale of two cities on the latest World Football. Maz Farookhi is in Wellington and Katie Smith is in Auckland as the Philippines score their first ever World Cup goal and get their first ever World Cup win against co- hosts New Zealand.

We hear from former Football Fern Maia Jackman about what went wrong for New Zealand and Radyo Pilipinas’ Aaron Bayato on the historic win.

Katie has also been to Spain’s training base ahead of their next match where she caught up with journalist Laia Cervello.

Photo: Olivia McDaniel (C) and Philippines players celebrate the team's 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Philippines at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)