
Tired of the Premier League and big-league European football? Want to discover the hidden stories of the global game? The Sweeper Podcast is your passport to the most extraordinary stories from across the football world. From the World Cup and Champions League to the most obscure and overlooked competitions on earth, expert journalists Lee Wingate and Paul Watson explore the intersection of footba... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 116 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | SportsSoccer | |||

It has been another scintillating week of action at the 2026 World Cup, where the final round of group games is about to get under way.
Algeria are preparing to exact revenge against Austria for the ‘Disgrace of Gijón’ 44 years ago, in what may be t... more
The 2026 World Cup is already producing crazy quirks and hilarious headlines – with the co-host trio of Canada, Mexico and the USA leading the way.
The USMNT have a star striker who gained citizenship by pure coincidence, while the American and Can... more
Uzbekistan are on the cusp of making their long-awaited World Cup bow.
With former Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro at the helm, the former Soviet republic is about to become the first Central Asian country and the first double-landlocked nation t... more
Jordan are at the World Cup finals for the first time ever!
Led by coach Jamal Sellami in the dugout and captain Musa Al-Taamari on the pitch – who do not appear to agree when it comes to tactics – Jordan are set to become the country with the lowes... more
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Excellent, well researched, fun and a different niche than the norm. A pod for proper football fans who love the travel, the game and don’t take the game quite so seriously. 5 star!
Slowly working my way through the old episodes of the podcast and really enjoying it. Good to hear some different stories rather than just the boring stuff from the bigger leagues.
Would like it if the Europe United episodes would make a comeback, they were very good!
Keep up the good work guys
Updated 5/5/26
The biggest football fairytale is St. Johnstone’s cup double. Nothing comes close
Have listened to this podcast for over a year - every episdoe is expertly put together - thank you all (producers as well as presenters & contributors) for the effort and time.
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.
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
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #140 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #171 | |
Apple Podcasts | #173 | |
Apple Podcasts | #22 | |
Apple Podcasts | #67 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A global football exploration that shines a light on obscure leagues, fringe narratives, and the intersections of sport with travel, geopolitics, history, and culture. Episodes routinely unpack ownership models, governance, and the economics shaping football beyond the world's top divisions, pairing sharp analysis with vivid on-the-ground storytelling from places rarely covered by mainstream outlets. The show stands out for its curiosity-driven, globe-trotting approach and its willingness to connect disparate threads—from franchise-style leagues and multi-club ownership to secretive leagues and under-the-radar fan cultures—into a cohesive perspective on how football operates around the world.
Listeners can expect engaging host chemistry, de... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Sweeper:
1. Football Cliches
2. Career We Go: The Football Trivia Podcast
3. On The Continent - A European Football Podcast
4. Libero
5. The Totally Football Show with James Richardson
The Sweeper launched 5 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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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
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