What does football really reveal about globalisation—and where does that neat theory start to fall apart? In this episode, hosts Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro are joined by historian and analyst Graham Cornwell (George Washington University; Box2Box) for a sharp, wide-ranging discussion that uses the global game as a lens on power, identity and money. Drawing on Cornwell’s recent Foreign Policy article, “Soccer Still Has Some Explaining to Do,” the conversation revisits Franklin Foer’s influential How Soccer Explains the World and tests its arguments against two decades of change—from the rise of global club brands and commercial tours to the persistence (and reinvention) of local identities, fan cultures and political tensions.

The episode moves well beyond surface-level takes, tackling contradictions at the heart of modern football: hyper-global markets dressed up as “authentic” tradition, the uneasy coexistence of strict rules on the pitch with moral ambiguity off it and the geopolitical realities shaping everything from World Cups to player migration. With case studies ranging from Morocco’s World Cup ambitions to diaspora identities and the politics of fandom, this is a rigorous, accessible exploration of how football both reflects and distorts the forces shaping the modern world.

A compelling instalment in our in-season series on World Cup debutants, in this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Middle East scholar Curtis Ryan of Appalachian State University about Jordan’s historic first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup. From the fierce rivalry between Al-Faisaly and Al-Wehdat—shaped by identity, history and social tensions—to the unifying force of the national team, this is a timely and insightful discussion on sport, identity and politics in the Middle East country.

The episode also explores powerful stories from Syrian refugee camps and Jordan’s pioneering role in advancing women’s football globally, as well as the team’s World Cup prospects and the geopolitical challenges facing fans, particularly US visa restrictions.

Curtis's chapter on identity politics in Jordan, which we referenced in the introduction, can be found here, if you would like to learn more.

This week's FootPol Podcast episode explores Indian football as a political and social phenomenon rather than simply a sport. Joining co-hosts Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro in conversation is Sandeep Menon, author of Sacred Grounds: A Journey Through People’s Football in India. It traces how the game is embedded in India’s uneven political geography—from the northeastern states, where football intersects with histories of marginalisation and identity, to traditional centres like West Bengal and Goa. The discussion makes clear that, while football lacks the national political leverage of cricket, it plays a far more immediate role at the local level, where it reflects and shapes relationships between communities, regions and the state.

At the grassroots, football operates as a political ecosystem: local tournaments are tied to patronage networks, clubs and players become vehicles for influence and football spaces double as sites of civic and political life. These dynamics also reshape what “success” means—less about national leagues and more about community status, economic mobility and access to opportunity. At the same time, weak governance and institutional neglect continue to limit the sport’s development, particularly in the women’s game. The episode offers a concise but revealing account of how football in India functions where it matters most—locally, politically and socially rather than on the global stage.

In addition to Sacred Grounds, Sandeep is also the author of Out of the Blue: Bengaluru FC’s 10-Year Odyssey.