World Football

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

Former World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly and former professional player Pat Nevin join Mani Djazmi to discuss FIFA - football's world governing body decision to have a 48 team men's World Cup which will have 104 matches and spread across six weeks. Guinea is a country that has never qualified for the World Cup and Mani speaks to their goalkeeper Aly Keita who is in favour of expanding the competition. The team also discuss the ongoing disagreement between United States coach Greg Berhalter and former teammate Claudio Reyna. Berhalter was cleared by an legal investigation into an incident of domestic violence 30 years ago. The incident from 1992 was brought to light by former USA players Claudio and Danielle Reyna who are parents of one of the USA's current players, Geo. They've been friends with the Berhalters for decades but were unhappy about the lack of playing time. The report also revealed new facts about Claudio Reyna whom, it says, was uncooperative and a pushy parent. Plus have a panel accidentally started a riot? That's after a title-deciding match between Al-Ahed and Al-Ansar couldn't finish after a goal scored in injury-time by Ahed's Scottish striker Lee Erwin sparked a riot by Ansar fans who set seats on fire and threw them onto the pitch forcing the refereeing officials to run for cover. We'll also hear a special guest!

Mani Djazmi is joined by Pat Nevin and Heather O’Reilly for the latest episode of World Football. We speak to President of the Norwegian Football Federation, Lise Klaveness, about her ambitions to join UEFA and the importance of having female leaders in football. And new Major League Soccer club St Louis City have started with two wins from two in the Western Conference - their sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel tells us how excited the city of St Louis is about their journey. Photo: Norway Football Federation president Lise Klaveness talks during the 72nd FIFA Congress on March 31, 2022 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar. (Credit: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Turkish football writer Bora Isyar tells us about the resumption of the Turkish Süper Lig and the reaction of Besiktas fans, who threw toys onto the pitch in protest against the government’s handling of the earthquakes’ aftermath. After the racist abuse of David Alaba for not voting for Karim Benzema in FIFA’s awards, and Pepe’s refusal to vote for Lionel Messi, we ask if players should have a say in awards. And we discuss the return to football of Jurgen Klinsmann. Photo: Teddy bears and toys thrown on the field to be sent to the earthquake zone of the Vodafone Park Stadium prior to the Turkish Super Lig soccer match between Besiktas and Fraport TAV Antalyaspor, in Istanbul, Turkiye on February 26, 2023. (Credit: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Haiti's Chelsea Supris celebrates reaching the World Cup for the very first time in the country's history. And as football resumes in Turkey following the devastating earthquakes, the Gambian international Lamin Jallow finds himself searching for a new club after his team withdrew from the league. Picture on website: Haiti's Roselord Borgella celebrates during their FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Playoff game against Chile. (Photo by Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Papua New Guinea captain Rayleen Bauelua looks ahead to the World Cup qualification play-offs. Picture on website: Papua New Guinea women's soccer team line up before a friendly game against the Philippines. (Photo by Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Hatayspor defender Kamil Çörekçi provides an eyewitness account of the earthquake which has killed thousands in Turkey and Syria. He tells us how he and his family survived and how he is still haunted by the traumatic experience, unable to sleep. He says he’s feeling lucky, but also guilty to have survived. Picture on website: An aerial view shows destroyed buildings after a deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

AC Monza captain Matteo Pessina reflects on a successful week, beating Juventus and passing an economics exam. And we speak to Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris as they prepare to become the first MLS team to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. Picture on website: AC Monza's Matteo Pessina celebrates after beating Juventus. (Claudio Benedetto/LiveMedia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Pays de Cassel player Ayrance Leganase looks back on his team's 7-nil loss to PSG in the Coupe de France. Having once been told he might need to have his left foot amputated, he got to share the pitch with Neymar and Mbappe. We also hear from Darvel's hero Jordan Kirkpatrick following their shock win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. Picture on website: Neymar Jr has a laugh with opponent Nicolas Bruneel during the round of 16 French Cup match between Pays de Cassel and Paris Saint-Germain. (Glenn Gervot/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Former Cameroon player Patrick Suffo and agent Paulo Teixeira discuss the issue of age fraud in football. Plus, Pat Nevin gives his views on the latest decisions made by football's law makers IFAB. Presented by Mani Djazmi. Picture on website: a supporter of Cameroon holds the national flag. (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)

We pay tribute to the former Italy, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea player Gianluca Vialli who sadly died last week. Plus, we meet Palestinian refugee Heba Saadia who's been selected as one of the Assistant Referees at this year's Women's World Cup. She grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus but since the Syrian civil war started, has moved around the world with her family. No Palestinian has ever reached this level in football before. Picture on website: Gianluca Vialli greets supporters after Italy won Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

In the second part of our interview with Roy Hodgson, he reflects on troubled times at Liverpool and England. He also talks about retirement, the role of luck in football. and the joy of ending his career by going full circle and returning to Crystal Palace. This has been re-uploaded after the original programme was replaced by a tribute to Pele.

Brazilian journalist Ricardo Setyon reflects on Pele's funeral. The former USA international Heather O'Reilly gives her view on a shocking story involving the coach of the USA men's team. And we speak to the former Kenyan international Martin Imbalambala who went blind overnight. Picture on website: Pelé jerseys on display at Vila Belmiro Stadium. (Leandro Bernardes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Friends and former team-mates pay their respects to Pele. The former Brazil and Santos player Rildo tells us how Pele halted the Nigerian civil war, and the former New York Cosmos defender Werner Roth shares a story involving Pele, a baby shark and a bathtub. We also hear from Brazilian journalist Ricardo Setyon. Picture on website: Pele in action during World Cup 1970 in a game against Czechoslovakia. (Photo by Monte Fresco/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)

The former Inter Milan, Liverpool and England coach Roy Hodgson remembers his early career. In the first of two special programmes he recalls playing in South Africa during the Apartheid era, revolutionising the game in Sweden, finding success with the Swiss national team, and getting a dream move to Italy's Serie A. Picture on website: Roy Hodgson applauds the fans after a match between Crystal Palace and Watford. (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Argentine journalist Francisco Canepa, and delirious Argentina fans, reflect on an incredible World Cup final. We also hear from Ambet Yuson, General-Secretary of Building and Woodworkers International, who since 2016 has been working with FIFA and Qatar's Supreme Committee. He makes a heartfelt plea to football fans and players not to forget the migrant workers. Plus, fans from various countries reflect on their experiences in Qatar.

Will Lionel Messi finally lift the World Cup trophy? We look ahead to France v Argentina and hear from Messi's former team-mate Pablo Zabaleta. Mani Djazmi and Pat Nevin are joined by L'Equipe journalist Loïc Tanzi and Argentinean broadcaster Francisco Cánepa ahead of the final. And, as a bonus for podcast listeners, World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas explains what it was like to get his hands on the most famous trophy in football. Picture on website: Pyrotechnics explode around a giant FIFA World Cup trophy prior to the semi final match between France and Morocco. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi is joined by Argentine journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo and Moroccan Amine El Amri to preview the World Cup semi-finals: Argentina v Croatia and Morocco v France. We hear from Moroccan fans in Doha after they knocked out Portugal and discuss whether the post-colonial relationship will give the players extra incentive against the French. We head inside the Croatia camp to get the lowdown on the brilliant midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic. And we hear from former Croatia player and coach Igor Stimac, who says Croatia’s spirit and character was forged during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

We look ahead to the quarter finals of Qatar 2022 focusing on Argentina and Morocco. We also go behind the scenes at the Netherlands training camp and get an insight into Dutch winger Cody Gakpo from his former coach Luc Nilis. (Photo: Morocco supporters celebrate in the streets in Doha. Credit: Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images)

Morocco fans celebrate after their team made history by beating Spain. And we visit a specially created fan fest for migrant workers in a cricket ground on the edge of Doha.