World Football

In this episode of World Football we discuss one of the biggest matches in the global calendar, El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid.With both sides vying for the La Liga title, Barcelona ran out 4-3 winners in a game where a Kylian Mbappe hat trick for Real Madrid wasn't enough for Carlo Ancelotti's side to close the gap at the top.Barcelona are now seven points clear with nine to play for and another title looks to be in their grasp in Hansi Flick's first season in charge.World Football's Delyth Lloyd has been discussing the game with George Addo and Spanish football journalist Eduardo Alvarez.Photo Credit: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid passes the ball under pressure from Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on May 11, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

London City Lionesses’ owner Michele Kang says she wants to show women’s football teams are a good investment even without an affiliation to a men’s team.The Lionesses will be the first team to compete in the WSL in England without a link to a men’s football team, but Kang told the BBC she doesn’t see this as a disadvantage.Kang also owns Washington Spirit in the United States and eight-time Women's Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais who are playing in the new look playoffs this weekend to decide the title winners in France.Find out what’s next for her French team Lyon this weekend and hear a rare interview with Michele Kang who’s been speaking to World Football’s Jo Currie:Photo - Michele Kang, Owner of London City Lionesses, celebrates with the Barclays Women's Championship trophy after London City Lionesses win the Barclays Women's Championship and subsequently gain promotion to the Barclays Women's Super League after the Barclays Women's Championship match between Birmingham City and London City Lionesses at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park on May 04, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Credit: FA via Getty Images)

It was the game that no-one wanted to end...For the second time in six days Inter Milan and Barcelona served up a European classic as the champions of Italy won 4-3 on the night - 7-6 on aggregate - to reach the Champions League final.It was the joint highest-scoring Champions League semi-final ever, with the 13 goals equalling the 2018 semi-final when Liverpool also defeated Roma 7-6 on aggregate.Italian football expert Mina Rzouki and Ernest Macia from Radio Catalunya joined World Football’s Ade Adedoynin to reflect on one of the all-time great European football ties.Photo: Davide Frattesi of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Credit: Getty Images)

There’s been a rise in global attention towards football in Saudi Arabia with high-profile players moving to teams in the country, but are Saudi Arabia clubs now starting to dominate in Asia?Three of the four AFC Champions League semi-finalists are from Saudi Arabia with former Premier League players Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney scoring to help Al-Ahli reach the final over Saudi Pro League rivals Al-Hilal.World Football’s Nick Hatton speaks to Asian football journalist Michael Church about how Saudi Arabian clubs are dominating Asia’s premier club competition.Image: Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli Saudi celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Galeno during the AFC Champions League Elite Semi Final between Al Hilal and Al Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on April 29, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Liverpool equalled Manchester United's record of 20 top-flight titles with their 2024/25 Premier League win, but it wasn’t just the team making history.Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk became the first Dutch manager and captain to win the Premier League title, so how has their influence helped Liverpool to glory – especially in Slot’s first season in England?World Football’s Sarah Mulkerrins is joined by football reporter George Addo as they get the views of former Liverpool and Netherlands players Bolo Zenden and Sander Westerveld.Image: Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk captain of Liverpool celebrating after being named Champions of the Premier League at the end of the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

After a season which promised so much but has delivered so little, how can Atletico Madrid make the next step in La Liga and bridge the gap to Real Madrid and Barcelona?Diego Simeone’s side made some big signings in the European summer, but they’ve fallen short in all major competitions.World Football’s John Bennett gets the views of Atletico Madrid podcasters Chami and Eduardo, and Spanish football expert Alvaro Romeo.Image: Diego Simeone in action during the LaLiga match between Atletico Madrid and Valladolid at Cívitas Metropolitano on April 14, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Credit: Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

With uncertainty around Marcus Rashford’s future, where will the Manchester United forward be playing next season?Will he leave his boyhood club? Could he stay at Aston Villa beyond his loan spell? Or could a move abroad be on the cards? BBC's chief football news reporter Simon Stone joins World Football’s Maz Farookhi to discuss what Rashford’s next move could be.Image: Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on April 15, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Credit: Danehouse/Getty Images)

Leeds United and Burnley have both secured their return to the Premier League, so how did they do it and do they have what it takes to stay in the Premier League?For Burnley it is an immediate bounce back after they were relegated last season, while Leeds took two years to secure their return.Dan Jewell, who covers Burnley for the BBC, joins World Football’s Nick Hatton to discuss the two side’s promotions and they also hear the views of former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford and former Burnley defender Michael Duff.Image: The players of Burnley celebrate with champagne following the team's victory and subsequent promotion to the Premier League in the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley FC and Sheffield United FC at Turf Moor on April 21, 2025 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

In this episode, we take a look at two African players making a huge impact in the Premier League for Brentford.Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa from DR Congo are the top two goalscorers for Brentford during their time in the Premier League with 40 and 42 goals respectively.They both added to their tally in the 4-2 win against Brighton, making it the seventh time this season they've scored in the same game, closing in on the record of 10.John Bennett has been speaking to World Football's George Addo and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani about Wissa and Mbuemo’s partnership.Photo: Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford celebrates with teammate Yoane Wissa after scoring his team's third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Ipswich Town FC at Gtech Community Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Brentford, England. (Credit: Getty Images)

In this episode of World Football, we bring together two sports not usually associated with each other – football and snooker.That’s because four-time world snooker champion Mark Selby’s career has been strongly linked to his hometown football club Leicester City.He became world champion for the second time on the night of Leicester’s iconic Premier League title win in 2016As he prepares to try to add another world title to his collection at the World Championship in Sheffield, England he’s been telling John Bennett about his footballing passion.Photo: Mark Selby with a Leicester City football club flag after lifting the trophy after beating Ding Junhui to win the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre on May 02, 2016 in Sheffield, England. (Credit: Getty Images)