5 Live's World Football Phone-in

As the ’26 qualifications come down to the wire the team are talking about the shape of the competition now that 48 nations are taking part in the tournament. Kathryn Stanczyszyn sits in, joined by Tim Vickery, Mark Machado and superfan, Miguel Espino to talk about all things football.

Published: 18 November 2025

Is Pep Guardiola the greatest ever football manager? Dotun and the team celebrate the greats: Jose Mourinho, Johan Cruyff, Brian Clough, Jack Charlton, Jurgen Klopp to name a few.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

Dotun and Mark Machado are joined by Tim Vickery to talk about departures, biographies and your favourite football quotes.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

If you could change anything about the world of football, what would it be?

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by our Salford correspondent and Man United specialist, James Young, The World Cup’s tickets have gone on sale so we ask – what’s the most you’ve paid for a ticket to a game? Turns out some of our listeners have very deep pockets…

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Dotun and the team dish out awards. Club over country, who would you choose?

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2025

First memories of World Cups and commentary then and now.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2025

Dotun is joined by Tim Vickery & Mark Machado. How did you end up supporting your club?

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2025

American owners coming into football, or should that be soccer, and when did you miss out on a big moment at a game? Dotun and Tim are joined by African football expert Maher Mezahi. Karen calls us to talk about her niece’s Ballon D’Or nomination: were the women players short-changed at the ceremony by the coverage? Has your team decided to boycott the competition like The Preston Park Flyers under 7s?

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2025

Mark Meadows joins Tim and Dotun. When have you had a taste of football humble pie?

Transcribed - Published: 16 September 2025

Tim and Dotun are joined by James Young to wrestle with questions about managers.

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Atolani Oyewumi in Lagos and Mark Machado from Carragher's Bar in Manhattan. Mark’s got Mike Romero from the bar with him. It’s a cast of thousands to talk about the season to come and the last kicks and thrashes of the summer transfer window.

Transcribed - Published: 8 September 2025

Dotun & Tim are joined by Djibril Diop in Berlin and our Hollander from Manchester, superfan Patrick Wetzels to talk about United, what the opening of the season and who the best young player in the game is, or was

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Mark Meadows and journalist Joey D'Urso to talk penalty takers, UEFA Women’s Euros and which was the greatest football shirt?

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2025

The Club World Cup is done and it's "allez les bleues" - Chelsea that is, not Paris Saint Germain! The Women's Euros are into the quarter finals stage so it's busy busy! And do you remember Donald Trump appearing on Saint & Greavsie? Because we do.Tim and Dotun are joined by Maher Mezahi in this edition.

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2025

Dotun & Tim are joined by Paul Sarahs to talk about the UEFA Women’s Euros, the Club World Cup latest and following on from the ‘human error’ with the electronic line calling system at Wimbledon, what has been the impact of technology in football?

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

Dotun a & Tim are joined by Mark Machado - the Deportivo Lankan – who’s in London for one night only! The Club World Cup and life on the terraces under discussion in this edition

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by James Young and new recruit Atolani Oyewumi to wonder why Alejandro Garnacho has posted a picture wearing a Rashford Villa shirt and Real Madrid value Rodrygo at 90m euros – what’s going on?

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Mark Machado and, briefly, by Sophia Hartley to talk about the Club World Cup and much more besides. What does the "u" stand for in a Club sandwich? Unknown, perhaps? Answers on a post card.

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Mark Meadows in Berlin this week. After Jobe Bellingham’s transfer to Borussia Dortmund, following a similar path to his brother Jude, the focus was on the greatest football siblings, and football families. Also looking ahead to the Club World Cup and UEFA Women’s Euros and getting reaction to Wales v Belgium, and England v Andorra.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Jonny Bentley to talk all things football and settle the argument of the ages! Donny Osmond or David Cassidy? Who is top of the 70s pops?

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2025

Carlo Ancelotti to leave Real Madrid to coach Brazil? 20 year anniversary of the Glazer ownership at Manchester Utd? Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis confronts Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch? All of footballing life is here.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

Tim Vickery and James Young discuss why South America is requesting a 64 team format for the 2030 World Cup?

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

Dotun, Tim and Jonny discuss footballers who have improved with age & enjoyed extended careers, as well as those players who’ve made an instant impact at a young age. Plus memories of Bobby Moore in goal, Sir Alf Ramsey’s response to a transfer request, and tributes to Kevin de Bruyne as he approaches the end of his Man City career.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Jibril to discuss club traditions, strange player of the match awards and Brazils downfall.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined from Algeria by African football expert Maher Mezahi. They talk about England’s first matches under new manager Thomas Tuchel, whether style or results are more important and what it’s like for Muslim players during Ramadan.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by our Berlin footballing "correspondent", Mark Meadows and the team look ahead to England's next games and the national team manager's first squad. Are teams playing too many games? As Liverpool lose two big matches there are questions to answer.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

Dotun, Tim and Seth talk about the significant financial challenges of Man United ..the roots of football...the merits and demerits of covering songs...(don't ask!)

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

Ollie D joins the select band of Brazilian shirtname holders in this edition. The final adjudication comes from Joe in Cincinatti, Clayton in Leyton and Paul in Cambridge. Another vexed issue resolved by Tim, Dotun and Mark Machado. Also on the menu tonight - interim managers, do they work? What's going on with club budgets and do we need replays in the FA Cup?

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

Footballing heroes, unexpected meets, birthday shares and remembering Roberta Flack.

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Hugh MacDonald joins Dotun and Tim for lively football conversation. Floodlight failure in the Czech republic, great European comeback nights & Aberdeen turn the tide

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

Carnage for Spurs as loss piles upon loss. Who can Tim and Dotun turn to for comfort? And a day that goes down in infamy as James Young is outed as having forgotten his shirt-name! The horror of it.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

Has the thrill gone from the transfer window deadline? Dotun, Tim and Mark discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Mark Machado to discuss the greatest comebacks in football.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Paul Sarahs to discuss Forest, The Club world cup and more...

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

Dotun and Tim are joined by Djibril Diop and callers want to talk about Guardiola’s influence on modern football, Nottingham Forest’s lofty league position, playing Sunday league football, inconsistent refereeing and whether Josh Windass will move to Brazilian club Santos. There’s also time for Scritti Politti’s song Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry for Loverboy) featuring Miles Davis and related jazz discussion!

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

Legendinho Tim Vickery and ‘Viva Mark Vegas’ Mark Meadows join Dotun for the final WFPI of the calendar year. Tim, Mark & callers discuss Southgate’s legacy, after the former England men’s manager is awarded a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours list. Plus Forest fans toast their team’s brilliant start to the season, and referees prepare to announce VAR calls to fans in stadiums for the first time. And are Manchester United really in a relegation battle after losing five league games in a calendar month for the first time in over sixty years?

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2024

Dotun is joined by Tim Vickery and Maher Mezahi

Transcribed - Published: 25 December 2024

New York’s biggest WFPI fan pays a visit from across the pond, as we talk Man City’s bad luck, Forest on form, and a tour of UK football destinations for our resident American.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

Dotun and Tim are joined by Paul Sarahs to discuss football and everything in between. Is darts a real sport? Author, Martin Amis had his doubts...

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

Dotun, Tim and Seth discuss football club nicknames and whether they need a rebrand?

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Dotun is joined by Tim Vickery and James Young

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

Dotun and Tim are joined by Maher Mezahi and Patrick Wetzels to ponder the big footballing question of the day... who replaces Gary Lineker?

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2024

Dotun and Tim are joining by Jonny B and Mark M to ponder which is better the better defensive strategy: a good aw-fence or a good dee-fence... And what happens when expensive players get a new boss?

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

As Man Utd seek yet another new manager after the sacking of Erik ten Hag: just who is Rúben Amorim and what might the Sporting boss bring to the Old Trafford dugout?Plus: Brazil cries foul as Vinicius Jr is overlooked for the Ballon d’Or in favour of Rodri. But is it a Real shocker or are the complaints unjustified?Paul Sarahs & Portuguese football expert Zach Lowy join Dotun and Tim to discuss the burning issues of the moment.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

A southern hemisphere flavour tonight as Dotun and Tim are joined by the Springbocca Junior, Mark Gleeson from South Africa. Too much power in too few hands is one of the themes explored tonight. And what about siblings in soccer?

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2024

Dotun and Tim are joined by our travelin' Manc, James Young. And this time we're talking about potential England managers, the risk of strikes and too much football.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Dotun and Tim are joined by Mark M to ponder value for money, the number of games being played and Spurs getting "spursier". And it's a shirt name for one caller to the WFPI

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2024

Who is the player from your era that you'd want to tell the next generation, about?

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

Dotun is joined by the legendinho Tim Vickery and freelance journalist and broadcaster Hugh MacDonald to discuss what puts your town on the footballing map?

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024