Shakhtar Donetsk is a Ukrainian club – but Russia are trying to change that!

As part of their efforts to integrate occupied Ukrainian territories, Russia are now creating their own versions of major Ukrainian teams.

So why are UEFA not stopping this? What lie is being told to make it happen? And could the real Shakhtar win the Conference League?

On this episode, we’re taking you on a journey to Ukraine to investigate how football is being used as a weapon of war.

Plus: Semi-pro Heidelberg United eye up an historic AFC berth and Montserrat search for a new head coach on Facebook.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:25 – The copycats in Russia’s fourth tier

06:22 – The Crimean Premier League

08:01 – Shakhtar Donetsk’s European run

11:15 – The rapid rise of LNZ Cherkasy

17:31 – Heidelberg United’s AFC aspirations

20:58 – Unlikely continental qualifications

25:30 – Montserrat’s unorthodox manager hunt

A newly-promoted club are on the verge of the impossible.

If tiny FC Thun can get just a few more points on the board, they will win the Swiss Super League and claim the first major trophy in their 128-year history.

But what do the locals make of it all? Why is Thun the perfect place for such a fairytale? And how did a literal sauna force a high-stakes clash with Basel to be called off?

We headed to the Alps to meet the fans and find out the answers. Join us in Thun for Europe’s most extraordinary club football story of 2026.

Sign up to Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod to enter the FC Vaduz giveaway.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:35 – A quick history of FC Thun

04:45 – The fire at St. Jakob Park

11:20 – Other bizarre postponements

16:46 – Groundhopping with the Thun Army

22:16 – A tour of the Stockhorn Arena

28:10 – The stunning beauty of Thun

33:15 – A quick stop-off at FC Vaduz

A former poker player has coached Bosnia to the World Cup!

Sergej Barbarez has guided the Balkan country to the tournament in his first head coach role – at the expense of four-time champions Italy.

So how did he go from the casino for the dugout? Why has qualification cost his striker Ermedin Demirovic €300,000? And how are Bosnia at a second World Cup without ever making the EUROs?

In this episode, we explore brilliant Bosnia’s incredible journey and reflect on Iraq and DR Congo’s play-offs successes too.

Plus, the Ceuta coach pledges to walk to Rome and Nauru launch their one child, one ball initiative.

Nutmeg Magazine (You can buy the magazine for a special Sweeper discount rate of £10 by using the code 'sweeper' at checkout): https://www.nutmegmagazine.co.uk/product/issue-39/

Nauru's 1 Child 1 Ball Initiative: https://stingz.co/pages/nauru-soccer-federation-one-child-one-ball-initiative?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ8cvxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelDO7Gm-3sFxEpJ4A-iTsjaeuk0DmhnSSu4YoASfMxIsy-KbfggLYXbPp-qE_aem_QArFYavpkwgspTpT7riFWA

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:26 – Bosnia’s poker-playing coach

15:20 – Iraq’s 21-match qualifying campaign

19:32 – DR Congo and the legend of Zaire

23:39 – Nutmeg magazine’s World Cup issue

26:24 – Ceuta coach’s pledge to walk to Rome

31:40 – Nauru’s 1 child 1 ball initiative

Liechtenstein have the strangest national football team in Europe.

They have no domestic league to develop players, sometimes take just one fan to away matches and, for years, had just one professional footballer.

So how do they make it work? Why is it so hard to generate support for the team? And what change to international football might improve their fortunes?

In this episode, we put the micro-state under the microscope and examine how Europe’s richest country is also home to its strangest national football team.

Plus, the German winger with a secret double life and the Italian coach who disguised himself as a priest.

Equator's World Cup 2026 course with David Goldblatt:

https://www.equator.org/courses/world-cup-2026

Stamping Grounds by Charlie Connelly: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stamping-Grounds-Exploring-Liechtenstein-World/dp/0349114889

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:03 – Liechtenstein at the FIFA Series

08:07 – Europe’s strangest national team

18:41 – Sudan’s bizarre 12th-tier call-up

20:21 – Puerto Rico’s tournament triumph

23:08 – Equator’s 2026 World Cup Masterclass

27:22 – The German winger with a double life

30:07 – Italy’s coach disguised as a priest

Eritrea’s national team haven’t played an official match in seven years.

But this month, the Red Sea Camels are making their long-awaited return to the international stage in AFCON 2027 qualifying.

So what kept Eritrea away? Why are they returning to the fold now? And do they have any chance against Eswatini?

In this episode, we take you on a virtual journey to the Horn of Africa – and shine a light on the only country excluded from the FIFA rankings.

Plus, the Belarusian team in exile in Poland and the Russian war critic making waves in Cyprus.

Sweeper football shirts: ⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠

Deutsche Welle documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMRQQYGNBK8

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro

01:14 – Eritrea’s international absence

04:55 – Dictatorships and defection

09:16 – The long-awaited return to the fold

13:30 – The state of play in the national team

19:02 – Poland’s Belarusian club in exile

22:47 – Sweeper shirts and special bonus pod

24:17 – Russia’s war critic turned club owner

A World Cup co-host is at war with another participating nation.

Since the United States launched strikes against Iran at the end of last month, the big question in the football world has been whether the latter will still play at the World Cup.

So will Iran play or not? Could they even face the United States? And who would likely replace them if they were to withdraw?

Today, we run through all the conceivable scenarios and analyse the most turbulent build-up to a World Cup in living memory.

Plus: The Barcelona fan who went to the wrong St. James’ Park and Welsh club Llantwit Major’s hilarious cup run.

BUY THE SHIRTS: ⁠⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠⁠

Get £6 off with Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/sweeperpod⁠

The Guardian on the 1930 World Cup: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/13/world-cup-stunning-moments-25-conte-verde-uruguay

The Los Angeles Times on India:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-19/did-india-withdraw-from-the-1950-world-cup-because-they-were-not-allowed-to-play-barefoot

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:55 – Iran’s World Cup predicament

04:35 – USA fit to host tournament?

08:09 – Scenario 1 – Iran play at World Cup

11:25 – Historical precedents for withdrawals

16:40 – Scenario 2 – Iran withdraw from World Cup

20:55 – Barca fan’s extreme travel mix-up

29:17 – Llantwit Major’s wacky cup run

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 four decades later? And could they ever play against each other?

In this episode, we take you inside one of European football’s oddest disputes: the battle for Steaua Bucharest’s history.

Plus: The Italian coach who sacked himself after 44 years and the German pirate island club with no opponents.

BUY THE SHIRTS: ⁠https://stingz.co/collections/sweeper-podcast⁠

Get £6 off with Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/sweeperpod

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

00:57 – FCSB’s nightmare season

02:19 – The battle for Steaua’s history

10:09 – Unlikely European Cup winners quiz

14:07 – Gigi Becali: Football’s craziest owner

17:39 – The coach who sacked himself

23:04 – Football’s longest-serving managers

26:10 – The club with no opponents

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 same time, sign up at patreon.com/sweeperpod.