In the last episode of the seasone, co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on a great second season of FootPol, and pick apart some of the main themes from the season. They include conversations about community clubs and inclusivity as well as the relationship between social class and football in the past and present. There's also a look at the number of Asia-related episodes that were produced and what could be in store for next season.

But before that check out the back catalogue of episodes that you might have missed. And mark your calendars to join Guy and Francesco from September for season three. If you've got some thoughts and ideas of future episodes, topics and guests, then get in touch! You can do that via the FootPol Podcast's social media channels on BlueSky, Facebook and Instgram as well as Guy's and Francesco's LinkedIn profiles or via the podcast's email account, which is footpolpodcast AT gmail DOT com.

In this episode of The FootPol Podcast, Guy and Francesco explore how war is disrupting football in 2025, focusing on conflicts that are ongoing or escalated this year.

They examine:

• Israel’s war on Palestine and Palestinians, especially in Gaza
• The 12-day Israel–US conflict with Iran
• The Sudanese civil war
• The advance of Rwanda-backed M23 forces in eastern DR Congo

The discussion looks at how these wars affect domestic leagues, players, and fans—as well as the wider political repercussions for national teams. From FIFA’s silence on banning Israel to how a potential US travel ban under Donald Trump could affect Iranian and possibly Sudanese fans at the 2026 World Cup, this episode tackles the uncomfortable collision between politics and the pitch.

Despite the devastation, Guy and Francesco also reflect on how football persists as a source of community, resilience, and hope in even the darkest corners of conflict.

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Josh Bland, a research student at the University of Cambridge, to explore the enduring and evolving relationship between football and social class in England.

Josh traces the historic connection between the working class and the beautiful game, and unpacks how today’s football—especially in its commercialised Premier League form—challenges ideas of “authentic” fandom and identity. Are traditional ties to the game only found further down the football pyramid? And how is class itself understood in contemporary Britain, through the lens of football culture?

A thoughtful and timely conversation about heritage, identity, and how football reflects deeper shifts in British society.