FIFA Living Football

On this week’s show we speak to FIFA World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff about his work in Armenia as CEO of the FIFA Foundation. We also hear from global football ambassador Isha Johansen, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Lithuanian football great Edgaras Jankauska reacts to the FIFA Futsal World Cup Draw ahead of September’s tournament in his home country. Plus our special guest this week is a pioneer in the development of the women’s game, having set up the Galz & Goals development programme for the Namibian FA, Jacqueline Gertze.

This week Reshmin Chowdhury is joined by the former Germany defender and manager, Steffi Jones, to discuss a stellar career that saw her win a FIFA Women’s World Cup and three European Championships. We react to the 71st FIFA congress and learn about some important reforms to football’s transfer system. We speak to one of Futsal’s greatest ever players, Kike, and head to the Solomon Islands to find out about their journey to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania. Plus we reveal the BEST FIFA Fan award winner, a man who walks ELEVEN hours to watch his team play at home! 

Chile and FIFA Legend, Mark Gonzalez, joins Reshmin Chowdhury to discuss his 18 year career across 5 different countries. We hear from Petr Cech and Director of FIFA’s Medical Department, Andy Massey, about the new concussion protocol; we react to the Olympic Men’s and Women’s Football Tournament Draws for Tokyo with Ryan Nelson and Lindsay Tarpley; plus we go to Honduras to find out how the FIFA Forward Programme is having a positive impact on the game at all levels in the region.

New Zealand’s most capped international of all time and FIFA Legend, Ivan Vicelich, joins Reshmin Chowdhury to discuss his fascinating career and the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place in his home country. We also sit down with one of the greatest managers of all time and arguably the greatest referee of all time, as Arsene Wenger and Pierluigi Collina discuss their extraordinary careers as well as some proposed new laws of the game. We also hear from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and find out how the Covid Relief Fund has helped women’s football in Mexico. 

Former Dortmund, Liverpool and Lazio striker Karl-Heinze Riedle joins Reshmin Chowdhury to discuss his career and pay tribute to former teammate and arguably the greatest German player of all time Lothar Matthaus, who turned 60 this week. We sit down with Germany’s record appearance holder to discuss an extraordinary career which spanned four decades and included a FIFA World Cup, a UEFA European Championship and a truly unique rivalry with Diego Maradona. We also hear from FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the International match calendar and the recent CAF Presidential elections – and we find out how the Covid Relief Fund has helped football bounce back in Sierra Leone. Plus former New Zealand international, Kirsty Yallop, joins us to discuss the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

This week Reshmin Chowdhury is joined by the most capped football player in history, in both the men’s and women’s game, former USA forward Kristine Lilly. Kristine played a record breaking 354 times for her country in a career spanning 24 years – we hear her thoughts on the development of the women’s game and she shares some of the highlights of a career that saw her win two FIFA Women’s World Cups. FIFA and Brazil legend Kaka tells us about his plans for the future and we speak to record breaking referee, Edina Alves Batista. Plus we speak to Living Football TV host Jessica Libbertz and see how FIFA’s COVID Relief Plan has helped football in Thailand get back on track.

We kick off the first of FIFA’s new Living Football podcast series with Denmark and Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel alongside host Reshmin Chowdhury. We analyse Bayern’s FIFA Club World Cup triumph, hear from FIFA and Spain legend Xavi and FIFA President Gianni Infantino explains why the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be the best ever. Plus we look at how FIFA’s COVID-19 relief plan has helped football in Kyrgyzstan flourish. Living Football is about a commitment to the game, a commitment to the people, a commitment to the planet and a commitment to the future.

Coming soon....FIFA's brand new podcast reminding us of the defining role football plays in our communities and in our lives. Hosted by Reshmin Chowdhury, alongside a different FIFA legend each episode, we'll be speaking to the biggest names in world football whilst also finding out about the unsung heroes of the beautiful game. Please subscribe now to get Episode 1 as soon as it’s released.