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The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

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

The Sweeper is a world football podcast telling fascinating stories from the global game – from the World Cup and Champions League to the most obscure and overlooked competitions on earth. Hosted by Lee Wingate and Paul Watson, the show covers all 211 FIFA nations and beyond, touching on geopolitics, geography, politics, history, culture, travel and identity. Join us for an ample supply of chaos, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes99Founded5 years ago
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SoccerSports

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Artwork for The Sweeper

Latest Episodes

Steaua Bucharest, Romania’s most successful club, no longer exists.

Instead, two teams now both lay claim to the original club’s success – including the highly prized 1986 European Cup.

So who is the true successor? Why did UEFA change its mind fou... more

Welcome to The Sweeper Podcast. Each week, we bring you the most extraordinary global football stories from across the 211 FIFA countries and beyond.

New episodes are released at 8pm UK time every Tuesday. For bonus podcasts every Thursday at the sa... more

In North Korea, even football is shrouded in secrecy.

Fixtures in the DPRK Premier League aren’t published. Fans only find out matches are happening when notices appear outside the stadium the day before. You can’t check the scores. And you can’t wa... more

Bodø/Glimt continued their sensational debut UEFA Champions League campaign by beating Italian giants Inter in the Arctic Circle – after 80 tons of snow had first been cleared from their pitch, of course.

But did you know Norway is home to an even s... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

John Duerden
Asia correspondent
Episode: India’s Super League crisis, the utterly mental Polish Ekstraklasa & Christmas Island’s red crabs
Ali Howarth
Continental correspondent discussing Afcon
Episode: India’s Super League crisis, the utterly mental Polish Ekstraklasa & Christmas Island’s red crabs
Jon Arnold
Expert on North and Central American football
Episode: Curacao & Haiti's World Cup heroics, Thun’s Swiss title tilt & Argentina’s invented champion
Nathan Joyes
Football commentator and host of Copa Club Podcast
Copa Club Podcast
Episode: Coquimbo Unido's treasured title, Mirassol's organic rise & the OFC Pro League soft launch
Maksims Krivunecs
President of the Vers Liga, Latvia's higher football league
Vers Liga
Episode: Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends
Titas Teiten
Football journalist from Baltic Football News
Baltic Football News
Episode: Sweden’s Mjällby miracle, Lithuania’s warm welcome & Ireland’s marathon helicopter
Ali Howorth
African football expert
Cabo Verde National Team
Episode: Cape Verde: World Cup qualification, the LinkedIn footballer & donkey deliveries
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

Hosts

Lee Wingate
Host and co-host, known for his engaging storytelling and insights into football's cultural and historical dimensions.
Paul Watson
Co-host, recognized for his dynamic discussions and expertise in uncovering the less told stories of the football world.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Thank you to Lee and Paul

    This podcast is incredible. I wish something like this existed for every sport. The Sweeper is my favorite escape from whatever’s going on in the world, and it’s the best podcast out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TreyTrey132
    United States18 days ago
  • Great podcast!!

    Genuinely one of best podcasts out there. can’t recommend joining the patreon highly enough: a serious journey of discovery for a fiver. I’ve learned so much about so many people and places related but going way beyond soccer/football. Very excited about the next year for this podcast; it’s one of the few places where you can learn about the beauties and strangenesses of the world without being inundated with its horrors (not that Lee and Paul shy away from discussing those as necessary, of cou... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LuckmannDeluxe
    United Statesa month ago
  • Always worth a listen

    For anyone interested in football across the world. The stories featured have a truly global span and never cease to engage. Very well written and presented.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Racing Willow
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Podcast Addict
    5
    yvan
    4 months ago
  • The best

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ttttttttttttttttttttttttuuu
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback often emphasizes the informative and entertaining nature of the podcast, making it suitable for football fans looking for diverse stories.
The chemistry between hosts is recognized as a significant strength, contributing to an engaging listening experience.
Many listeners express gratitude for the podcast's ability to showcase underdog stories and connect with the sport's global aspects.
Listeners appreciate the unique focus on global football narratives, with many highlighting the appeal of stories from lesser-known leagues and cultures.
There are occasional critiques regarding the integration of promotional content, although the overall reception remains positive.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#205
United Kingdom/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#214
Italy/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#26
Philippines/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends
Q: What challenges come with trying to grow the profile of Latvian football?
Krivunecs mentions financial resources as a key challenge, primarily due to limited domestic TV rights and market size.
Latvia: The Baltic League grand plan, vanishing champions & a final between friends
Q: Can you sell the Vers Liga to our international audience? What makes Latvian football special?
Maksims Krivunecs discusses the appeal of the league, highlighting its youth and the diversity of clubs, while acknowledging it primarily caters to a local audience.
OUR GREENLAND ASSIST, San Marino's "pizza bakers" & Paks' power-plant ultras
Q: What did you say to your players after this game?
The San Marino coach indicated that they look to gain lessons from such games for better fixtures in the future.
Cape Verde: World Cup qualification, the LinkedIn footballer & donkey deliveries
Q: What were the logistical challenges faced by the Cape Verde national team?
The team has to manage extensive travel logistics to bring players from around the world, often training in Portugal before matches.
Cape Verde: World Cup qualification, the LinkedIn footballer & donkey deliveries
Q: What was the reaction in Cape Verde after the qualification for the World Cup?
The mood was celebratory yet low-key, as many were hungover after parties that lasted through the night.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sweeper

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

Featuring an eclectic mix of stories from various corners of the football world, this podcast focuses on both mainstream and obscure competitions, providing listeners with unique insights into the global game. The narrative often intersect topics like geopolitics, cultural identity, and historical contexts, exploring not just the triumphs of well-known teams but also the struggles and celebrations of lesser-known clubs and nations. With engaging anecdotes, thoughtful discussions, and a lighthearted approach, the hosts connect deeply with the sport's broader implications, which resonates with football enthusiasts eager for diverse narratives beyond the mainstream leagues.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Sweeper?

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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. It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast
2. Football Weekly
3. Undr The Cosh
4. What Did You Do Yesterday? with Max Rushden & David O'Doherty
5. Kermode & Mayo’s Take

How many episodes of The Sweeper are there?

The Sweeper launched 5 years ago and published 99 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Sweeper?

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What guests have appeared on The Sweeper?

Recent guests on The Sweeper include:

1. John Duerden
2. Ali Howarth
3. Jon Arnold
4. Nathan Joyes
5. Maksims Krivunecs
6. Titas Teiten
7. Ali Howorth
8. Matej Mutiš

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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