World Cup 003 | Previewing Fifa's Bloated Mega Tournament

World Cup 003 | Previewing Fifa's Bloated Mega Tournament

The 2026 World Cup is upon us. The “biggest, most inclusive and best" football tournament ever is finally here . Gianni Infantino told us to say that. On today’s Libero, James Horncastle, Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson look forward — if that’s the right word — to what is about to unfold across the United States, Mexico and Canada and try to pick their way through the politics and the problems to find some actual football. P1: (01:15) P2: (28:43) We are offering all new signups to SC Libero [https://www.liberopodcast.com/sclibero], the most important of the least important membership clubs, a two-week free trial. Time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com [https://www.liberopodcast.com/]. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com [getintouch@liberopodcast.com] Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod [https://www.youtube.com/@liberopod] Join our Discord @Libero Podcast [https://discord.gg/v6c2fdMKSK] Follow us on X @podcast_libero [https://x.com/podcast_libero] Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast [https://bsky.app/profile/liberopodcast.com] Follow us on Instagram @liberopod [https://www.instagram.com/liberopod] Follow us on TikTok @liberopod [https://www.tiktok.com/@liberopod] Follow us on Facebook @liberopod [https://www.facebook.com/liberopod] Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

World Cup 002 | Are Ancelotti And Tuchel The Exception Or The Rule?

The 2026 World Cup has a class of elite coaching talent unlike any other tournament in history. Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino will all be calling the shots for nations they are not from. There is a clear shift in the profile of managers willing to take jobs that were previously the preserve of international football specialists. Is this the start of a permanent trend shift for top coaches looking to escape the intensity of club football? Will they being able to adapt to a model where money cannot simply be thrown at a problem position. Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson tackle this one. P1: (01:56 P2: (26:26) We are offering new members a two-week free trial of SC Libero⁠ [https://www.liberopodcast.com/sclibero] on all pricing tiers, time it right and that's two bonus episodes and four extended shows without paying a penny. Join now: liberopodcast.com [https://www.liberopodcast.com/]. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com [getintouch@liberopodcast.com] Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod [https://www.youtube.com/@liberopod] Join our Discord @Libero Podcast [https://discord.gg/v6c2fdMKSK] Follow us on X @podcast_libero [https://x.com/podcast_libero] Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast [https://bsky.app/profile/liberopodcast.com] Follow us on Instagram @liberopod [https://www.instagram.com/liberopod] Follow us on TikTok @liberopod [https://www.tiktok.com/@liberopod] Follow us on Facebook @liberopod [https://www.facebook.com/liberopod] Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

World Cup 001 | Why Isn't The Age Of Messi And Ronaldo Over Already?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will play at this World Cup despite a combined age of nearly 80. It is a credit to their commitment to football and, undoubtedly, improvements in sport science that the two defining players of the last 25 years are still going, but it also begs the question of why can't the game let go of these two superstars? Messi and Ronaldo are not the only players in the upper age bracket at this tournament, is that because there is a dearth of talent coming through? Or has the media landscape that allowed them to rise so high become more fragmented in the age of niche passions. In the first of our World Cup series, James Horncastle, Rory Smith and Tariq Panja wrestle with these questions and more. P1: (11:05) P2: (26:46) Join SC Libero [https://www.liberopodcast.com/sclibero], the most important of the least important membership clubs, now: liberopodcast.com [https://www.liberopodcast.com/]. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com [getintouch@liberopodcast.com] Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod [https://www.youtube.com/@liberopod] Join our Discord @Libero Podcast [https://discord.gg/v6c2fdMKSK] Follow us on X @podcast_libero [https://x.com/podcast_libero] Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast [https://bsky.app/profile/liberopodcast.com] Follow us on Instagram @liberopod [https://www.instagram.com/liberopod] Follow us on TikTok @liberopod [https://www.tiktok.com/@liberopod] Follow us on Facebook @liberopod [https://www.facebook.com/liberopod] Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

127 | Arsenal Got Close, But How Do They Catch PSG?

Arsenal lost the Champions League final on Saturday night but it has still been an undeniably brilliant season and deserved to parade the Premier League trophy around north London in front of millions fans. For the final Libero of the club season, Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney dial in direct from Budapest, before Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson ask how Arsenal can make up the gap to PSG next season if they are to finally become European champions. For the final Libero of the club season, Rory Smith and Miguel Delaney dial in direct from Budapest, before Jack Pitt-Brooke, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson ask how Arsenal can make up the gap to PSG next season. Is it as simple as backing Mikel Arteta with greater attacking options? And with Real Madrid and Manchester City both in transition, who can stop Arsenal and PSG from re-running this final in 12 months time? Finally, What can we expect from Liverpool, now that Arne Slot has gone and Andoni Iraola has been lined up to replace him. P1: (06:04) P2: (29:47) Join SC Libero [https://www.liberopodcast.com/sclibero], the most important of the least important membership clubs, now: liberopodcast.com [https://www.liberopodcast.com/]. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com [getintouch@liberopodcast.com] Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod [https://www.youtube.com/@liberopod] Join our Discord @Libero Podcast [https://discord.gg/v6c2fdMKSK] Follow us on X @podcast_libero [https://x.com/podcast_libero] Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast.com [https://bsky.app/profile/liberopodcast.com] Follow us on Instagram @liberopod [https://www.instagram.com/liberopod] Follow us on TikTok @liberopod [https://www.tiktok.com/@liberopod] Follow us on Facebook @liberopod [https://www.facebook.com/liberopod] Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

126 | Is PSG v Arsenal The Future Of Football?

The Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal has a rare quality in this fixture: it pits clearly the two best teams in Europe against each other. Both clubs have had brilliant seasons, each winning their domestic league, adding to an epic feel for the game in Budapest, but the fixture has a sense of freshness, because Arsenal have never won this competition, and PSG won it for the first time last year. On today’s Libero, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson ask why the finalists are only coming as powers in Europe now and whether there is a geographical explanation. With just three European cups between them, all of them in the last 15 years, why have London and Paris traditionally underperformed in this competition? And is that finally starting to change? P1: (02:24) P2: (27:55) Join SC Libero [https://www.liberopodcast.com/sclibero], the most important of the least important membership clubs, now: liberopodcast.com [https://www.liberopodcast.com/]. — Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in via getintouch@liberopodcast.com [getintouch@liberopodcast.com] Subscribe to our YouTube channel @liberopod [https://www.youtube.com/@liberopod] Join our Discord @Libero Podcast [https://discord.gg/v6c2fdMKSK] Follow us on X @podcast_libero [https://x.com/podcast_libero] Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodcast.com [https://bsky.app/profile/liberopodcast.com] Follow us on Instagram @liberopod [https://www.instagram.com/liberopod] Follow us on TikTok @liberopod [https://www.tiktok.com/@liberopod] Follow us on Facebook @liberopod [https://www.facebook.com/liberopod] Music: Kid Kodi - Blue Dot Sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]