Show overview
Soccer 101 has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 258 episodes. That works out to roughly 140 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 26 min and 40 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language Sports show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 16 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2021, with 48 episodes published. Published by TSS.
From the publisher
All the soccer history and explainers you can handle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
View all 258 episodesChiefs, Pirates and Sundowns: soccer in South Africa
Artificial Intelligence and Soccer: problems solved vs problems created
From the Ottoman Empire to Osimhen: football in Turkiye
Xhaka, Shaqiri and 128 years of footballing history: soccer in Switzerland
A tale of two clubs... 81% of the time: domestic football in Uruguay
This week, we're talking about THE dark horse candidate at every World Cup since 2010... it's Uruguay. The four-time world champion has one of the oldest leagues in South America, but how did it come to be, how has it evolved over time, and who are its dominant clubs? Plus, how Diego Godin helped kill a deal that was hurting the national team, why so many of their best players have so few caps for the massively successful clubs of the league, and much much more!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are the best World Cup balls, mascots and anthems?
In an effort to not only be depressing when discussing the World Cup, Graham and Taylor take a look at the lighter side of the tournament, and weigh in on the best balls, mascots and anthems in the tournament's history. Plus, what are sticker albums and why aren't they more common in the US?WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kings, ultras, and unrest: Egyptian football explained
This week, Graham and Taylor spend some time trying to scratch the surface of the complicated history of soccer in Egypt: how did the sport rise to prominence, which club has dominated both the country and the continent, the occasionally hostile relationship between government and supporters, and much much more! Plus, how has the Egyptian Premier League, the country's top flight, helped shape Egypt national teams, past and present?WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An abbreviated history of World Cup disruptions: teams withdrawing, changing hosts and more!
On this week's episode, inspired by the latest chaos surrounding the 2026 World Cup, we take a look at the history of upheaval at the tournament: when have teams withdrawn, what happens when they do, have hosts ever had to drop out, what are the issues facing the upcoming iteration, and much much more!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Youth development, colonialism, match fixing, and golden eras: a history of professional football in Belgium
This week, it's the country for whom De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku and Courtois have all played... just not in terms of the domestic league: Belgium! We trace the full arc of the top flight in the tiny nation, from the league's founding in 1895 through the golden era of the 1970s and 80s when Anderlecht and Club Brugge were genuine European forces, through the match-fixing scandals and the sprawling corruption investigation that rocked the sport in Belgium in the late 2010s, and into the present day. And along the way, we try to determine just why a country so rich in football talent has ended up with a league better known as a stepping stone than a destination.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wrexham: America's Team, Capitalism's Posterchild, or both?
On this week's show, we spend probably way too much time discussing the Rise of Wrexham (TM). Just kidding. They've probably already got that trademarked. How have they succeeded so fast, so quickly? Can they stay alive in a Premier League world? Can a club be an underdog and a juggernaut, simultaneously? All that, and much much more!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
American managers in Europe: why haven't there been many and why aren't there more?
In honor of Pellegrino Matarazzo's strong start to life with Real Sociedad, Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing American managers in Europe's top five leagues. How many have their been, who was THE trailblazer, is there a stigma against them (and is it fair), possible candidates for future gigs, and much much more!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Small nation, big results: How Croatia became football’s ultimate overachiever
How does a country of under four million people keep churning out World Cup semifinalists and all-time great midfielders? In this episode, we break down the history of Croatian football, from the founding of the HNL in the early 1990s to its modern role as a talent factor, and look at how clubs like Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, and Rijeka shaped a league built more on development than spending. We’ll explain where the Croatian league fits in Europe, why domestic dominance doesn’t tell the whole story, and how a clear footballing identity, elite coaching, and a relentless export pipeline helped produce global stars. And, of course, why writing them off ahead of the 2026 World Cup would be a familiar mistake.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why is the World Cup expanding? The positives and negatives of FIFA's shift for 2026
With the World Cup looming in the distance, Graham and Taylor discuss the decision to expand the tournament from 32 teams to 48. Who led the campaign? Is it all just for money? What are the perceived benefits and drawbacks to the change in format? Will FIFA stop at 48? All that and much much more!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Balance and dominance: a brief history of Jordanian football
Graham and Taylor continue to preview the 2026 World Cup by taking a look at the domestic leagues of the participating nations, and this week it's Jordan's turn! How long has the league been around, who are its dominant club teams and how do they represent the country itself, and what role has the league played in shaping the national team. Plus, a potted history of Jordan as a nation, for those (like us) who need it!WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does the Premier League have an English manager problem?
English managers were once the default in the Premier League; now, they’re a rarity. In this episode, we trace the sharp decline of English coaches across the Premier League and Europe’s “Big Five” leagues, unpacking how and why the numbers fell over time. Is this a failure of coaching education, a bias in club hiring, or a consequence of the modern, globalized game? Does the shortage of top English managers actually matter for English soccer, and could it be holding the national game back? Finally, we look ahead: could a new generation be poised to change the narrative?WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From coffee houses to energy drinks: a brief history of Austrian league football
Graham and Taylor continue to preview the 2026 World Cup by taking a look at the domestic leagues of the participating nations, and this week it's Austria's turn. How long has the league been around, how has it evolved from intellectual powerhouse to developmental hotbed, and what role has the league played in shaping the national team.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How has punditry shaped our understanding of soccer, and what is its role in the modern game?
This week, Graham and Taylor are diving into the world of soccer punditry: what they do, why they do it, the early pioneers, the importance of ex-players in generating greater understanding of the game itself, and the best (and worst) examples of modern punditry. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Northern lights and summer soccer: all about the Norwegian top flight
We continue to look at domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week it's our friends in the north: Norway. How has the Norwegian top flight evolved over the decades, why doesn't have the awesome name it used to have, a club that could never lose, and much much more! Plus, we ponder just how many goals Haaland could score if he took his talents to the south beach... of Oslo.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do American and European stadiums look so different?
Why do American sports teams constantly build shiny new stadiums while many European clubs play in the same grounds that their supporters grandparents' attended? In this episode, we dig into the cultural, economic, and fan-experience factors that explain why stadium life looks so different on each side of the Atlantic. We explore whether U.S. fans secretly wish their venues had more European-style permanence, why European clubs are suddenly embracing American design trends, and what’s driving the wave of mega-renovations across the continent.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How did Qatar arrive on the soccer landscape, and how has the Stars League been impacted by Saudi Arabia?
On this episode, we’re unpacking the Qatari Stars League — what it is, how it works, and how it’s evolved. We run through the league’s biggest clubs and current powerhouse, the stars who’ve defined it, and what the overall level of play actually looks like compared to the rest of the Gulf and Asia. We also dig into how the league fuels the national team and what all of this means for Qatar’s chances at the 2026 World Cup.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.