Episodes

  • A World Cup Divided: Trump and 2026

    A World Cup Divided: Trump and 2026
    Mar 30 2025
    In Los Angeles, California, four nations collided in a football tournament with an inescapable geopolitical backdrop. Canada, Mexico and Panama have all found themselves in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump within his first 100 days in office, and they all met, with the US, in the Nations League finals. Adam Leventhal has been looking into what happens when the sport and politics are thrust together like this speaking with the players, stakeholders and fans to find out how they feel about the various subplots surrounding this tournament and the 2026 World Cup. How do the co-hosts put on a united front when so much of the talk is of division? Host: Adam Leventhal Exec Prod: Abi Paterson Featuring audio from: The Daily, The Headlines, CBS, NBC, CSPAN, ESPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • The Underground World of Fake Football Shirts

    The Underground World of Fake Football Shirts
    Mar 11 2025
    Online searches for fake football shirts have gone up by over 500% since 2021, with the Premier league counterfeit market worth over £180m. But what damage could they be causing you and others? Adam Leventhal has spent the last nine months investigating the illicit trade of counterfeits, and uncovered some shocking details along the way. Host: Adam Leventhal Mixing: Jay Beale Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Featuring footage from: Sky News, Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa, sdpeasyy, Culture Force Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • It's Over: The Trial of Luis Rubiales

    It's Over: The Trial of Luis Rubiales
    Mar 3 2025
    In August 2023, on the pitch in Sydney, Australia, Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso's life changed. But not in the way it should have.In a moment that became more widely known as "The Kiss" former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, grabbed Hermoso's face and planted a kiss on her lips. It became front page news around the world.In February 2025, Rubiales went on trial for one count of sexual assault and one of coercion. If he was found guilty of both counts, the prosecution was asking for a two and a half year prison sentence.In the end, following a two week trial, Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault but not guilty of coercion. So, how did we get to this ruling? Meg Linehan guides you through the full story, with the help of The Athletic's Spanish reporters, from the pitch in Sydney, to the hills of south Spain, over to the court room of Madrid. And ultimately ask one question, se acabó? Is it over? ______________________________ Credits Host: Meg Linehan. Contributors: Dermot Corrigan, Guillermo Rai, Laia Cervello and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero. Producer: Theo Lloyd-Hughes Executive Producers: Abi Paterson and Emily Olsen Featuring footage from: ABC News, Sky Sports, Al Jazeera, The Independent, Sky News, France 24 English, Fox, Jenni Hermoso Instagram, RFEF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Anatomy of a Transfer

    Anatomy of a Transfer
    Feb 2 2025
    Football fans are desperate for transfer news - and it's often bigger than the sport itself. Open twice a year - in January and the summer - the transfer window changes the game. But what actually goes on when deals are made? Join Adam Leventhal as he goes behind the scenes at training grounds, stadiums and offices to explain the anatomy of a transfer and to breakdown the complex process of what a player goes through when they move from club to club. Host: Adam Leventhal Exec Prod: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • The Story of the Guinea Stadium Disaster

    The Story of the Guinea Stadium Disaster
    Dec 15 2024
    On December 1, one of the world’s worst stadium disasters unfolded. At the Stade du 3 Avril in Nzerekore, Guinea, a devastating crush led to chaos and, according to officials, the deaths of 56 people. But domestic human rights organisations believe they have verified that at least 135 people lost their lives that day. The Athletic travelled to Nzerekore to visit the stadium, analyse what happened and speak to eyewitnesses and relatives of those involved. They are grieving and searching for the truth. Content Warning: This show contains reporting that some listeners may find upsetting Host: Adam Leventhal Producer: Abi Paterson News reporting: Channel 4, France News, Sky News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Sudan: Football and the Forgotten War

    Sudan: Football and the Forgotten War
    Nov 24 2024
    In April 2023, civil war broke out in Sudan. It continues to this day leaving in its wake the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations. Despite this, Sudan’s national football team has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and tops its World Cup qualification group. They are a source of hope to a nation left in ruins. In this special episode of The Athletic FC Documentary we’ll take you into the war torn country where amateur matches continue amid the shelling, and football grounds have become burial grounds. At a refugee camp in neighbouring Chad, we’ll hear of the horrors of war and how football is helping children there. And hear how geo political influence, immigration and perilous journeys over land and sea are part of this journey with Sudan, football and a war struggling to be seen and heard. Credits Written and presented by Adam Leventhal Produced by Abi Paterson Additional reporting in collaboration with Tom Rhodes and Zemenfes Goudos GebreMikael Featuring footage from beIN Sport, Al Jazeera, British Pathé, Sky News, Fairshot, SuperSport, Sudan FA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Access All Areas: Brentford - Episode 4: European ambitions and the Ivan Toney dilemma

    Access All Areas: Brentford - Episode 4: European ambitions and the Ivan Toney dilemma
    Jul 24 2023
    To round up our series on Brentford we answer the outstanding questions on the Bees. What next for star striker Ivan Toney following his ban from football by the FA? How far up the Premier League table can the club go? And what are the club doing behind the scenes to ensure that they can keep improving year on year? Plus we hear about the women's team and how the club are supporting them. Hear from Chief Exec Jon Varney, Head Coach Thomas Frank, Captain Christian Norgaard, Performance Director Ben Ryan, Director of Football Phil Giles, Women's Head Coach Karleigh Osbourne, and Technical Director Lee Dykes on all this - and their thoughts on what the future holds for the club. Host: Jay Harris Producer: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Access All Areas: Brentford - Episode 3: Eriksen, Rowan, and the Heart of West London

    Access All Areas: Brentford - Episode 3: Eriksen, Rowan, and the Heart of West London
    Jul 24 2023
    Brentford Football Club suffered a devastating loss to their staff in November 2018 when Technical Director Robert Rowan passed away in his sleep aged just 28 due to a fatal cardiomyopathy episode. Christian Eriksen, the Danish international who had a heart attack on the pitch in 2021, was lucky. He survived and went on to play for Brentford from January 2022. In this episode we bring you their stories and tell you about the work that the club is doing with their community to raise awareness for heart charities. Hear from Robert's wife Suzanne Rowan, Head Coach Thomas Frank, Captain Christian Norgaard, Director of Football Phil Giles, B Team Head Coach Neil MacFarlane, Technical Director Lee Dykes and Director Nity Raj Host: Jay Harris Producer: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins