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Artwork for The Sweeper
San Marino
Coupe De France
Colo Colo
Virgin Derby
Basque Country
Malmo
Elfsborg
Kroki Cup
Livonian League
Football
Africa Cup Of Nations
Madeira Derby
Prague Derby
St. Kitts and Nevis
Te Runga Games
Hammaby
Botafogo
Marítimo
Nacional
FIFA Series

Welcome to The Sweeper Podcast, the unique world football show covering all 211 FIFA countries and beyond. Join Lee Wingate and Paul Watson for the best headlines from across the football world, and news, stories, insight and interviews you won't find elsewhere.

Whether you're into underdogs and upsets, ultras and fan culture, groundhopping and travel, derbies and rivalries, geography and geopolit... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes87Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Sweeper

Latest Episodes

In Part 1, Lee and Paul investigate why Slovakia have finally been recognised as EURO 1976 winners 49 years later – with the help of a UEFA insider, a Slovak football podcaster and people on the ground in the capital, Bratislava. How is the successor... more

In this episode of The Sweeper Podcast, we cover the big stories from 2026 World Cup qualifying and the latest international football news from Europe and beyond:

Part 1: Europe

* Austria’s stadium sinkhole saga continues as Ralf Rangnick takes to... more

In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by travel YouTuber John McAllister to talk about his epic 5,000km overland journey from Wales to Kazakhstan to watch the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier. There’s also a full round-up of the UEFA club competition a... more

In Part 1, Lee & Paul round up their favourite European football stories – which all have a geography theme. How is fishing village club Mjällby on the cusp of a shock first Swedish title? Why did fellow minnows Bruk-Bet Termalica have to cut down th... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Matej Mutiš
Co-host of Futbaloviva and winner of the 2024 Slovak Sports Podcast of the Year Award
Episode: Slovakia’s belated EURO triumph, Montserrat’s challenge to India & Crotone’s mafia infiltration
John MacAllister
Travel YouTuber currently in Kazakhstan
Episode: Kairat's Champions League heroics, Malta's European debutants & the 2026 OFC Pro League line-up
Nick Miller
Writer for The Athletic and The New York Times
The Athletic, The New York Times
Episode: Greenland’s CONCACAF rejection, Samsunspor’s smurf ultras & Cazorla’s hometown heroics
James Montague
Football journalist and author
Episode: The trillion-dollar Saudi team, Bosnia’s Serbian champions & Bulgaria's memorable minute's silence
Andy Brassell
Host of the European Football Podcast On The Continent
On The Continent
Episode: Víkingur’s 13-month season, Vitória’s crazy Kazakh away day & a Career We Go quiz
Hinrik Wöhler
Icelandic football journalist writing for Vizier
Vizier
Episode: Víkingur’s 13-month season, Vitória’s crazy Kazakh away day & a Career We Go quiz
Joe McAuliffe
Co-host of the trivia podcast Career We Go
Career We Go
Episode: Víkingur’s 13-month season, Vitória’s crazy Kazakh away day & a Career We Go quiz
Tom Middler
Co-host of The Other Bundesliga
The Other Bundesliga
Episode: Balkan groundhopping, River Plate’s potent paint & Como’s war on Monza
Simon Clark
Co-host of The Other Bundesliga
The Other Bundesliga
Episode: Balkan groundhopping, River Plate’s potent paint & Como’s war on Monza

Hosts

Lee Wingate
Host of a football podcast that focuses on unique narratives and stories from around the world.
Paul Watson
Co-host of a football podcast dedicated to unearthing lesser-known football stories globally.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 971 ratings
  • The best

    Simply: This is the best podcast. Lee and Paul are amazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ttttttttttttttttttttttttuuu
    United Statesa month ago
  • Tainted

    I love nearly everything about this podcast, however they’ve gone to some lengths to clarify they want to separate football from politics, primarily so they can take no position on the genocide in Israel - more galling was having a listener come onto the show & refer to same genocide as ‘political unrest.’ Keeping politics out of their reporting seems to be less important when talking about an ‘Evil World Cup’ of supposed baddie countries.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    lynchboy
    Ireland7 months ago
  • This would be five stars, but

    I love hearing about all the football stories from around the world, with clubs I didn’t previously know existed. Lee and Paul clearly find such joy in niche and underdog stories, and it’s a genuine pleasure to listen to. The show, however, has slowly begun devoting more time to FIFAPlus infomercials , and that’s both obnoxious and questionable. Come for the great football stories, but be prepared to skip several minutes per episode if you don’t want the marketing nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Corvidcatmom
    United States7 months ago
  • Great football podcast for stories you’d never heard anywhere else

    If you’re interested in football stories that aren’t going to make it onto any of your other podcasts, this is the place!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nolan921
    United States7 months ago
  • Always great

    These guys are fun to listen to. Great chemistry and fascinating stories. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigJuice123
    Canada7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its unique storytelling and humorous insights into global football, especially highlighting niche subjects that aren't covered by mainstream media.
There are occasional criticisms about the podcast's shift towards promotional content, although it generally maintains a loyal following due to its engaging stories.
The hosts display a great chemistry and passion for lesser-known football narratives, making the show informative and entertaining while effectively blending humor with poignant topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#122
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#81
United Kingdom/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#250
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#130
Germany/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#188
Australia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#28
New Zealand/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Slovakia’s belated EURO triumph, Montserrat’s challenge to India & Crotone’s mafia infiltration
Q: What impact has the presence of the Mafia had on clubs like Crotone?
The Mafia's influence has forced clubs like Crotone into judicial administration, significantly affecting their management and operations.
Slovakia’s belated EURO triumph, Montserrat’s challenge to India & Crotone’s mafia infiltration
Q: How has the reaction been in Slovakia to the UEFA update that officially recognizes their Euro 1976 victory?
Many are pleased, but the news has largely gone under the radar with mixed coverage in the media, mostly recognized within football circles.
Slovakia’s belated EURO triumph, Montserrat’s challenge to India & Crotone’s mafia infiltration
Q: What does the recent recognition of Slovakia as co-winners of Euro 1976 mean for the country?
It is seen as a significant achievement and a source of national pride, although responses vary among the populace, with few seeing it as life-changing.
Kairat's Champions League heroics, Malta's European debutants & the 2026 OFC Pro League line-up
Q: How did John obtain his ticket for the game?
John managed to get a ticket through a last-minute contact with the Supporters Liaison Officer after originally trying to buy one through normal channels.
Kairat's Champions League heroics, Malta's European debutants & the 2026 OFC Pro League line-up
Q: What was it like at the stadium during the Kairat Celtic game?
The experience was quite surreal, with the Kairat team playing defensively and holding the ball to take the game to penalties.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sweeper

What is The Sweeper about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program explores the hidden stories and unique narratives surrounding world football, focusing on lesser-known clubs and unusual football occurrences. In each episode, hosts Lee Wingate and Paul Watson present a mix of engaging anecdotes and insightful discussions, highlighting intriguing topics such as Greenlandic teams engaging in local customs, surreal events in small football leagues, and the dynamics of lesser-publicized matches across the globe. This approach provides listeners with an entertaining and educational perspective on the sport, often showcasing the passion and quirks that define football beyond the mainstream coverage.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Sweeper?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Sweeper. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Sweeper and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Sweeper get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Sweeper?

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How many subscribers and views does The Sweeper have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Sweeper has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Sweeper?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Sweeper:

1. Career We Go: The Football Trivia Podcast
2. Football Cliches
3. On The Continent - A European Football Podcast
4. Football Weekly
5. The Totally Football Show with James Richardson

How many episodes of The Sweeper are there?

The Sweeper launched 5 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Sweeper?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Sweeper?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Sweeper from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Sweeper?

Recent guests on The Sweeper include:

1. Matej Mutiš
2. John MacAllister
3. Nick Miller
4. James Montague
5. Andy Brassell
6. Hinrik Wöhler
7. Joe McAuliffe
8. Tom Middler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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