Football in a Time of War: Gaza, Iran, Sudan & DR Congo
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 GazaThe 12-day Israel–US conflict with IranThe Sudanese civil warThe advance of Rwanda-backed M23 forces in eastern DR CongoThe 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.
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45:21
Class Act: Football and the English Working Class ft. Josh Bland
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.
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47:41
When Goals Don't Matter: Gals FC ft. Nora Beqaj
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.
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41:10
Did Spain's World Cup win change society? ft. Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and Aníbal Mesa López
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. and authors of
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55:54
The Club World Cup and Women’s Euros and What’s at Stake
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.
The podcast that brings together football and politics. We'll be exploring the relationship between the two, both inside and outside the game.The podcast covers "Big Politics" like politicians, clubs, international and national federations and other organised groups and how they use or abuse the game to "Small, Everyday Politics" in the form of community-level clubs, fan associations and the way that football reflects the political challenges of our day to day lives.The FootPol Podcast is brought to you by co-hosts Drs Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton.
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