World Football

Mani Djazmi is in Melbourne as two-time world champions Germany hit debutants Morocco for six in their tournament opener.

Argentina's wait for a first World Cup win goes on as they are beaten by Italy. Katie Smith is joined by Argentinian commentator Andres Cantor who went viral on social media eight months ago when he got to call the moment that Lionel Messi guided the men's side to World Cup glory. He discusses whether Argentina's women can galvanize similar support in the country.

Maz Farookhi has moved onto Wellington ahead of New Zealand’s second match of the tournament against the Philippines on Wednesday. Football fever has definitely hit New Zealand with the squad dominating the media landscape - they’ve even knocked the All Blacks off the top of the sport bulletins. Maz is joined by Kiwi journalist Philip Rollo to preview the match.

And Mani catches up with the South Korea manager Colin Bell to discuss their tournament opener against Colombia and his love of singing!

Mani Djazmi and Maz Farookhi reflect on holders USA's opening game win over Vietnam in Auckland, including hearing from Meg Linehan, senior writer for The Athletic.

And we speak to FIFA assistant referee Heba Saadiyeh, who is the first Palestinian to participate in either a men's or women's FIFA World Cup.

Photo: Lindsey Horan (L) of USA celebrates with teammate Megan Rapinoe (R) after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Vietnam at Eden Park on July 22, 2023 in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)

The Philippines become the second country to make their World Cup debut and Maz speaks to journalist Ryan Fenix about what it was like to be in the stadium to watch his country.

Katie Smith is in Melbourne as Nigeria’s goalkeeper saves them from defeat and we’ll hear from USA defender Naomi Girma as she prepares to burst onto the scene.

Photo: Philippines players applaud fans after the team's 0-2 defeat in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group A match between Philippines and Switzerland at Dunedin Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Dunedin / Ōtepoti, New Zealand. (Credit: Getty Images)

World Football's Maz Farookhi is in Auckland to discuss New Zealand's first ever win at a Women's World Cup as Hannah Wilkinson’s goal stunned Norway. There was a minute’s silence before kick-off for the victims of a deadly shooting in Auckland on Thursday morning which overshadowed the opening game.

Elsewhere there’s relief for co-hosts Australia - Mani Djazmi sees the co-hosts get off the mark with a win against the Republic of Ireland, without their talismanic striker Sam Kerr who’s been ruled out of the first two games with injury.

(Image: Hannah Wilkinson of New Zealand celebrates the team’s first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park. Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

As the Australian Matildas get ready to kick off their home World Cup campaign, Katie Smith goes back to a time when life was very different for the women representing the national side when they weren’t full time professionals selling out stadiums, when money was tight and publicity almost non-existent.

Let’s go back to 1999 - a year out from the Sydney Olympics, when Australian sports teams were desperate to get media coverage and capitalise on a game changing event for the nation. That’s where the Matildas’ nude calendar idea came from - pose naked, gain attention, challenge gender stereotypes, raise funds - but it didn’t end up being that simple.

Katie met up with former Matilda Tracie McGovern, who featured in that now infamous calendar, to take a trip back in time.

With just two days to go until the world’s biggest ever women’s sports event kicks off in New Zealand and Australia, World Football’s Mani Djazmi and Katie Smith are in Sydney, with Maz Farookhi in Auckland to preview the start of the tournament.

They discuss the hosts, the favourites and the debutants, including in-depth interviews with the two-time World Cup winner with the USA, Carli Lloyd; Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams, one of only two players of aboriginal descent in the Matildas squad; and Panama midfielder Riley Tanner discusses the nation’s World Cup debut.

Photo: The FIFA Women's World Cup trophy is seen during its unveiling event on April 14, 2023. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Kerr is at the pinnacle of her career. She’s won her fourth Women’s Super League title with Chelsea, another FA Cup and is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, winning multiple Golden Boot awards across the globe.

And now the Australian record goal scorer and captain, who was inspired by Cathy Freeman’s gold medal winning race at the Sydney Olympics, is the face of the 2023 World Cup – looking for her team’s own iconic moment -where a nation stops to watch.

So where did it all begin for Sam Kerr? Maz Farookhi and Jenny Wallace find out. 1993 was the year Australia’s most famous sporting icon Shane Warne bowled the Ball of the Century, but it’s also the year the future Matildas captain was born in Perth and in to a family passionate about Aussie rules football.

You’ll meet the Kerr camp: the coaches, players and family that have played their part in her rise to the top including back to back World Cup winner, USA’s Carli Lloyd, Australia teammates Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, plus her parents Roger and Roxanne.

(Image: An image of Australia's Sam Kerr is projected onto the Sydney Opera House on September 05, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Getty Images)

Delyth Lloyd and Mani Djazmi profile the players who could make their breakthrough on the global stage at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Journalist Jen O’Neill joins the team to discuss the players to look out for, and the big names who will miss the tournament including England captain Leah Williamson.

We’ll also hear from Sophia Smith after her call up to the USA squad.

Photo: A general view of the OCEAUNZ footballs, the official match ball of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, before a behind closed doors training match between Republic of Ireland and Germany at Marbella Football Centre in Marbella, Spain. (Credit: Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi and Sarah Mulkerrins profile the eight teams set to make their Women’s World Cup debuts at the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

They’re joined by journalist Jen O’Neill as the team go around the globe hearing from some of the players who will be representing their nation on the biggest stage.

Louise Quinn of Ireland describes how excitement is building in the squad, while there are also interviews with Reina Bonta of the Phillipines, Panama’s Riley Tanner and Morocco and Tottenham forward Rosella Ayane.

(Image: The Women's World Cup trophy on display in New York (Credit: Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

In the last weekly edition of the programme, presenter Mani Djazmi, Heather O'Reilly and Pat Nevin reflect on 22 years of World Football.