World Football

South Africa’s Lucas Radebe speaks about his life journey. From being shot on the streets of Soweto, to becoming a Premier League player, the captain of his country and the ‘hero’ of Nelson Mandela!We also speak to Socceroo Awer Mabil. Born into a family of South Sudanese refugees, he tells us about his goalscoring debut for the Australian national team. Photo: Lucas Radebe (Getty Images)

Carlos Queiroz on the challenges of coaching Iran. The former German international Simon Rolfes dissects his country's latest defeats. We also speak to the coach of Kuwait and hear about life as a female football agent.(Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The former Manchester United striker Louis Saha tells us why big egos are disrupting the club. We discuss the plans to develop football in the Caribbean and speak to two St Kitts and Nevis internationals. Plus, Benin's Aaron Ibilola talks about life in Brazil's second division.(Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Burnley striker Chris Wood remembers the bullying he faced for wanting to play football as a youngster in New Zealand. We find out why the Italian club Virtus Entella don't have a league to play in. The Kosovo forward Atdhe Nuhiu tells us what it means to be playing international football. And we're joined by psychologist Damian Hughes, who gives us a lesson in how to get a winning mentality - the Barcelona way.(Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Germany coach Joachim Löw reflects on his team's disappointment at Russia 2018. The Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez and France's N'Golo Kanté also look back on the highs-and-lows of the World Cup.. We are also in Valencia to meet the club's Singaporean President, Anil Murthy.(Photo by Michael Regan - Fifa/Getty Images)

Life stories from the former Liverpool and Zimbabwe goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.(Photo by David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images)

Dynamo Moscow's Konstantin Rausch discusses Russia's new found confidence following the World Cup. We travel to Luxembourg for the start of a journey which the locals hope will take them to Euro 2020. And the Montserrat coach and players talk about the Caribbean island's return to international football after three years without a game.(Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

A proud Peter Schmeichel talks about the career of his son Kasper. The former Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu discusses the lack of African superstars. Plus, Clarence Seedorf on coaching the Cameroon national team.(Photo by Ian Gavan for FIFA via Getty Images)

In 2015, the two-time UEFA Cup winners Parma were declared bankrupt and demoted to the amateur leagues. The famous club effectively ceased to exist. Rebuilt and reborn as Parma Calcio 1913, the team won three back-to-back promotions and is back in Serie A. We hear from Parma's former captain and hero, Alessandro Lucarelli, who stuck with the club through the bad times. And the Parma director Pietro Pizzarotti, who helped rebuild the club from scratch in 2015. Presenter Mani Djazmi travels to Italy to tell the incredible story of the fall-and-rise of Parma Calcio 1913. (Photo by Roberto Serra/Getty Images)

Real Betis goalkeeper Joel Robles discusses the possibility of La Liga footballers going on strike because of a row over playing league matches in North America. The former Jamaica and Yeovil Town player Nathan Smith tells us how meditation has made him a better person. And Coritiba FC's Vitor Carvalho tells us why so many Brazilian footballers dream of playing in Europe.(Picture: Barcelona's Luiz Suarez courtesy of Getty images)

From growing up on a trailer park to playing in the World Cup final, the former Ajax and Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart looks back on his career and life. Also on the show, the flamboyant Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos.(Picture: Rafael van der Vaart courtesy of Getty images)

The former Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennent talks his wild lifestyle and difficult upbringing. We find out why the World Cup feel-good factor is fading fast in Croatia. And, we speak to one of South America's greatest players...Peru's Teofilo Cubillas.(Picture: Peru footballer Teofilo Cubillas courtesy of Getty images)

Valencia's new signing Daniel Wass looks ahead to the new season. Frank de Boer talks about the struggles of Dutch football. And we visit the hometown of Manchester United's Serbian international Nemanja Mati to find out how his Premier League wages have been used to re-build a football stadium and a church. (Picture: Valencia's Daniel Wass by Getty images)

We're with 18 time Italian champions Inter Milan as they prepare for a return to the Champions League. John Bennett speaks to Ghana International Kwadwo Asamoah who joined from Serie A champions Juventus and Dutch former Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij as the club plays English second-tier side Sheffield United.Across Yorkshire former Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa is preparing for his first season with three time champions of England, Leeds United. Authors Thomas Goubain and Jed Davies outline what we can expect from "El Loco" at Elland Road.And we catch up with footballing globetrotter Tom Saintfiet as he takes over as coach of Gambia, his tenth national team in ten years.(Photo: Inter Milan's Kwadwo Asamoah controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Credit: Claudio Villa - Inter via Getty Images)

Minnesota United forward Collin Martin opens up to Mani Djazmi about coming out and becoming the only openly gay man in America's five major sports leagues. Following the end of Russia 2018, we shift our attention to the next World Cup with Hassan Abdullah Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 organising committee. In the week that Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid in a deal worth more than 130 million dollars, we examine the fate of Serie B club F.C. Bari. They were forced to fold this week after 110 years of existence because they lacked the 8 million dollars needed to meet the registrations requirements for next season. And we hear the story of Carlos “Kaiser”, the Brazilian who managed to trick footballers, managers and clubs into signing him as a professional footballer for 26 years. He was known as a “farce footballer” using injuries and other means to avoid actually playing.(Image: Minnesota United's Captain wears a rainbow armband for their MLS pride night. Credit: Minnesota United FC)

Join us this week on the World Football show as Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić and former Croatian international Dario Simic look ahead to the World Cup final. We are also joined by a number of star-studded guests such as French World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, former German striker Kevin Keranyi and Russia’s Alexey Smertin.(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

World Football comes from Nizhny Novgorod as we look ahead to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Within the show the former Russia international Andrei Kanchelskis criticises his country’s negative tactics, we ask if the president of the Spanish Football Federation faces some difficult questions after his team’s exit and finally Pontus Kamark remembers Sweden’s third place finish at the 1994 World Cup.(Photo: Uruguay fans. Credit: Getty Images)

Oliver Bierhoff and Mats Hummels reflect on Germany’s exit from the World Cup, Maya Yoshida and Keisuke Honda talk about Japan’s Samurai Spirit and Pablo Zabaleta discusses Argentina’s poor performances.(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

This week’s World Football comes from St Petersburg, and join us as we hear from the Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, Peru’s very own Nolberto Solano and the former French international Bixente Lizarazu.(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Finally it is here, Russia 2018. So join us as this week's episode comes from the heart of the tournament, where we speak not only to Australian goalkeeper Maty Ryan and the former Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie, but from the fans who want their country to go all the way. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Croatia's Davor Suker and Belgium's Kevin de Bruyne look ahead to Russia 2018. We speak to the former South Africa international Matthew Booth about his time playing in the Russian Premier League. And we meet the teams and players unrecognised by FIFA, as they compete in the CONIFA World Football Cup.Photo: Davor Suker at the 1998 World Cup (Getty Images)

Iraq international Brwa Nouri talks about his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio looks ahead to Russia 2018. We speak to the captain of Tibet's national football team, Karma Tsewang. Plus, we assess the joint-bid from the USA, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.

Former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou explains why he turned his back on the World Cup. Clarence Seedorf looks ahead to the Uefa Champions League final. We meet the generous Nigerian forward Alhaji Gero who plays for Östersunds FK in Sweden and sends most of his money back home. Plus, the vice-chairman of Parma Calcio 1913 talks about the club's promotion to Serie A.(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The coach of Syria, Bernd Stange, talks about the challenges he faces and remembers his previous job in charge of the Iraqi national team. Spain's David Villa gives us his World Cup memories. Plus, the former West Ham and Charlton Athletic player Kevin George talks about mental health issues in the game.(Picture: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

An exclusive interview with the disgraced former President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter. What's his life been like since his spectacular fall from grace? And did he really not know anything about the rampant corruption that was taking place on his watch? We'll also be looking ahead to the World Cup with Denmark's Nikolai Jorgensen.(Picture: MICHAEL BUHOLZER/AFP/Getty Images)

Abraham Mebratu tells us what it's like to coach war-torn Yemen. Bangkok United's Mika Chunuonsee talks about the growth of the game in Thailand. And we look ahead to the World Cup with Morocco's Karim El-Ahmadi and Belgium's Christian Benteke.(Photo: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images)

Peru and Feyenoord midfielder Renato Tapia tells Mani Djazmi about his World Cup expectations and managing the National team Whatsapp group. Australia's Trent Sainsbury shares his experiences of playing at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia and his reservations about VAR. The Jiangsu Suning F.C. defender, who's currently on loan with Swiss side Grasshoppers, reflects on his footballing education at Inter Milan and why he chose to play in China.We're with James Montague in Athens as AEK are crowned champions of the Greek Super League for the first time in 24 years.And we hear from one of Africa's top referees, Bakary Gassama, who says Video assistant referees will be introduced in time for next year's Africa cup of nations, and that he and other World Cup Referees will make VAR a success at the World Cup.(Photo: Renato Tapia celebrates after scoring for Peru. Credit: Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

Mexican striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez looks ahead to the World Cup. Australia's Sam Kerr remembers her reluctant switch from AFL to soccer. We find out about the demise of the Corsican club SC Bastia. Plus, we speak to the first Englishman to play professional football in Brazil.(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

AS Roma President James Pallotta reflects on his team's astonishing win against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. We also hear from the former Liverpool and Valencia coach Pako Ayestaran. Plus, will theCopa America Femenina 2018 in Chile help give a much needed boost to women'a football in South America?(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Former Vitesse Arnhem and FC Twente goalkeeper Wouter Dronkers talks about his interest in medicine, astrophysics and aliens. We also hear from the Benin international Steve Mounie about the pressures of being in a Premier League relegation fight. And the Philippines national team captain Phil Younghusband relives the moment he made history.(Photo courtesy of Vitesse Arnhem)

We’re on the road for the latest round of international friendlies. Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi, Poland's Lukasz Fabianski and Tunisia’s Yohan Benalouane discuss their World Cup preparations. Plus, we hear from 1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu. He reflects on Paul Pogba’s worrying form and tells us how Jose Mourinho’s ‘tough love’ is causing serious problems for the French national team. He also tells us why it was more fun to be a footballer in the 1990s than now.(Picture: Tunisian supporters light flares after their team won 1-0 at the end of the international friendly football match between Tunisia and Costa Rica at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice (VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images).

Was the Malta team that lost 12-1 to Spain in 1983 the victim of a doping scandal? Malta's Carmel Busuttil dismisses claims that they were drugged by contaminated lemons. Nigeria's Femi Opabunmi tells us how his career was cut short after losing the sight in one eye. Canada's international goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe discusses her decision to play for a men's team. And we travel to Minsk to find out if BATE Borisov's domination is damaging for football in Belarus.(Picture: Spain's 1983 international team pose for cameras ahead of their European championship against Malta - Getty)

What can be done to fix Greek football? With the league suspended after the PAOK president Ivan Savvidis invaded the pitch to protest against a late goal being disallowed for his side, we speak to Herbert Hübel, the man leading the Fifa monitoring committee that oversees football in Greece. Freddie Kanoute, the former West Ham and Tottenham striker calls for football in his native Mali to be "reshaped" in a bid to rejuvenate the sport in the country.Former Scottish Professional footballer David Weatherston tells Mani Djazmi how anxiety stopped him fulfilling his potential and ended his career. 75-year-old England international John Shannon Jnr and his most committed supporter, 101-year-old John Senior, explain why veteran football is flourishing. Photo: PAOK president Ivan Savvidis takes to the pitch carrying a handgun in his waistband after the referee ruled out a last minute goal for his side against AEK Athens. Credit: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

With less than 100 days to go to the World Cup Russia’s anti-racism inspector, Alexey Smertin, says that black and gay fans shouldn’t fear going to the tournament but Aleksandr Agapov, President of Russia’s LGBT sports federation, doubts that there will be a legacy after the tournament. We hear how Jean Ssinende, arguably Uganda’s biggest football star, had to iron clothes for money as a 12-year-old to pay for her first boots, and why she flew to England by herself to start a new life as a 17-year-old. Chan Yuenting, the only female coach to win a men's league tells us how she first got into football. And we pay tribute to the life of Davide Astori, the Fiorentina captain and Italy defender who died at the age of just 31.Photo: A fan-zone screen displays a rainbow flag at the UEFA European Championships in 2016. Credit: Getty Images.

The Borussia Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke explains why German fans are staying home and being counted in protest over Monday games in the Bundesliga. The world's most expensive defender Virgil van Dijk tells us how he's had to "step up" his game to settle in at Liverpool after his transfer from Southampton.We hear from the woman behind the Open Stadiums twitter account, a movement of Iranian Women seeking to end discrimination & let women attend stadiums.Rishi Sehgal, the Interim Commissioner of the North American Soccer League, explains why they've had to cancel their 2018 season after a court upheld a decision by the US soccer federation to deny the NASL a second tier status.And we pay tribute to the former Spain and Barcelona striker Quini, who died this week at the age of 68. Photo: Dortmund's "yellow wall" populated by small pockets of fans on monday evening prior to the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg. Credit: Getty Images.

Former Premier League footballer Kieron Dyer talks about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and explains how that affected his football career. The coach of the Afghanistan women's team discusses the challenges she faces. Switzerland international Gelson Fernandes looks back on his time at Manchester City. And we remember the life and times of the record-breaking goalkeeper who was known as Crazy Sword...Malaysia's Chow Chee Yeong.

Will Saudi Arabia's deal with La Liga backfire if their players don't get game time ahead of Russia 2018? Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino talks about the pressure footballers face. We discuss the state of football in Egypt and visit the Swedish club Östersunds FK.(Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)

The former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet talks about his time in the Chinese Super League and discusses the pressures of coaching. We also hear from the former Australia international Jade North about his struggles with depression and discrimination. And the coach of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, tells us it's ridiculous to suggest that there's an attitude problem among African players.(Photo: Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images)

Nigerian international Leon Balogun talks about the racist abuse he has suffered in Germany. Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino remembers the moment that changed his life and talks about his fondness for Barcelona. We also assess Morocco's bid to host the World Cup in 2026 and speak to Matthew Beard - the coach of the now defunct Boston Breakers.(Picture by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Nigeria's Taribo West talks about the pitfalls of being a footballer. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish discusses his club's turnaround this season. And FIFA whistle blower Bonita Merciades talks about her new book, 'Whatever It Takes - the Inside Story of the FIFA Way'.(Photo: Taribo West on the pitch. Credit: Mark Sandten/Bongarts/Getty Images)

A female football fan tells us what it was like when her dream of watching her favourite team in the flesh came true. Fathers teaching their young daughters about football tactics, women attending stadia without guardians and, later in 2018, being allowed to drive. Is football heralding a new era in the Kingdom?In the week that Spartak Moscow describe three of their black players as “chocolates” in a joke, the Nigeria striker, Peter Odemwingie, tells us there’s no racism in Russia.Odemwingie is half-Russian, and played there for three years, but he says the amount of black players in the Russian Premier League proves that Russia is a welcoming country.We pay tribute to Cyrille Regis, who overcame fierce racism to be regarded as a hero by fans of all English clubs.We hear about how John Aldridge etched his name into the history of Real Sociedad, and the former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin calls on Arsenal fans to keep faith with Arsene Wenger.(Photo: The first women allowed into football stadia in Saudi Arabia. Credit: Getty Images)

Argentina's Pablo Zabaleta talks about the heartbreak of losing a World Cup final. We explore the problem of sexism in football with Mansfield Town's CEO Carolyn Radford. And the Malawi coach Ronny Van Geneugden discusses the challenges he faces.

Cameroon's Lauren on the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup. The former AC Milan striker George Weah tells us how Nelson Mandela inspired him to become the President of Liberia. And Nigerian international Odion Ighalo on fulfilling his dream of opening an orphanage in Lagos. Plus, we're on the island of Jersey as they bid to get an national football team.(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Relive the highs and lows on the road to Russia 2018. Over two years ago, teams from 210 nations began the qualification campaign for next year's World Cup. There was joy for Panama and Iceland. Syria went close despite the civil war. And there was heartbreak for Italy, the USA and Ivory Coast. From the earliest matches in the Himalayas, to Peru claiming the final spot, this is story of World Cup qualification. (Photo: ERNESTO BENAVIDES/AFP/Getty Images)

Exactly 50 years ago, the North American Soccer League was launched in the USA. During its heyday in the 1970s it attracted some of the biggest names in the world game like Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, Gerd Müller, George Best and Pele. This is the story of the hype-and-chaos surrounding the rapid rise and dramatic fall of the NASL featuring former players Rodney Marsh, Bob Rigby and Chris Dangerfield.(Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

US Soccer Presidential candidate Steve Gans outlines his vision for the future of the game. We hear from Real Sociedad's Adnan Januzaj and Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. And we visit Steaua Bucharest, currently playing in Romania's fourth division.

World Cup winner Rai explains why Brazil could struggle at Russia 2018. The former Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele remembers how he persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to sign David de Gea. And New Zealand's Rory Fallon on why he's turned his back on football to go into the ice cream business.(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

After becoming an outcast at his club, Senegal's Oumar Niasse talks about the challenges he faced following a bust-up with coach Ronald Koeman. The former Liverpool and Cameroon defender Rigobert Song reflects on the moment he almost lost his life. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio looks ahead to next week's World Cup draw and discusses his own future. Plus, Rodney Marsh remembers his great friend George Best.(Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)

All the excitement from Peru, Senegal and Ivory Coast on the road to the 2018 World Cup. During a dramatic final round of qualification matches in South America and Africa, we hear from Peru's assistant coach Nobby Solano, Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure, Morocco coach Herve Renard, Senegal's Cheikhou Kouyaté and many others. There's heartbreak, despair, joy and plenty of crazy celebrations.(Photo: Luka Gonzales/AFP/Getty Images)

Footballer Chris 'Kiki' Naumoff talks about retiring at the age of 21 because of a heart condition. Steven Gerrard and New York City FC's Mikey Lopez reflect on the career of Andrea Pirlo - following the Italian's retirement. There are shocking stories about assassination attempts and match-fixing in Malta. And in the second part of our interview with Ghana's Tony Yeboah, we hear about his time at Leeds United.(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)