Footballers Unfiltered

About Footballers Unfiltered

The 2026 World Cup is coming. And there’s only one podcast taking fans inside it through the voices of the players living it. Season Three of FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered launches with a new host, a new World Cup backdrop and the same unfiltered honesty that has made the award-winning podcast one of football’s most authentic player-led conversations. A new host takes the hotseat: Jackson Irvine. The Australia international, St. Pauli captain, and co-president of Professional Footballers Australia takes the reins from Joe Hart after two groundbreaking seasons.

Publisher

FIFPRO

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jan 2025

Latest episode

2 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jun 2026

   Ryan Christie: No Scotland, No Party at the World Cup

   Ryan Christie joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Scotland’s return to the FIFA World Cup, facing Brazil on the biggest stage, and what it means to represent a country heading to its first World Cup since 1998. In Episode 4 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Bournemouth and Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie reflects on growing up in the Highlands, his connection to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and the pride of helping lift up the next generation through football. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ryan opens up about Scotland’s dramatic qualification journey, the unforgettable win over Denmark, the emotion of seeing a whole country believe again, and the challenge of a group featuring Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Jackson and Ryan also discuss the realities of international travel, player workload, recovery, the demands of modern football, the role of the PFA, and why player voices need to be part of the conversation as the football calendar continues to grow. Subscribe to FIFPRO for more honest conversations with players heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Featuring: Ryan Christie Jackson Irvine Topics covered: Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Ryan Christie’s World Cup journey Scotland’s first World Cup since 1998 Scotland vs Brazil Scotland’s group with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti The Denmark qualification game Bournemouth and Premier League football Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the Highlands Player workload and international travel Player welfare, recovery and the PFA #FootballersUnfiltered #WorldCup2026 #Scotland

2. 

   28 May 2026

   Amir Murillo: The Panama World Cup Promise to His Grandmother

   Amir Murillo joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Panama’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fighting for his place just months before the tournament, and what it means to represent a country still carving out its place on the world stage. In Episode 3 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Panama and Beşiktaş right-back Amir Murillo reflects on his earliest World Cup memories, watching qualification with his grandmother, and the promise he made as a child: that when he played for the national team, Panama would reach the World Cup. Amir looks back on Panama’s historic qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the emotion of reaching the tournament for the first time, and how the team’s mentality has changed heading into 2026. With Panama drawn against England, Croatia and Ghana, he explains why facing the best players in the world is exactly the challenge they want. Jackson and Amir also discuss the demands of international travel, player workload, fixture congestion, fan culture at Beşiktaş and Marseille, working under coaches like Vincent Kompany and Roberto De Zerbi, and the difficult club situation that led Amir to move just five months before the World Cup. Subscribe to FIFPRO for more honest conversations with players heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Featuring: Amir Murillo Jackson Irvine Topics covered: Amir Murillo’s World Cup journey Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Panama’s first World Cup in 2018 Panama’s draw with England, Croatia and Ghana Playing for Beşiktaş, Marseille and Anderlecht Working with Vincent Kompany and Roberto De Zerbi Player workload and international travel Footballers’ rights and player support Panama’s dream to make World Cup history #FootballersUnfiltered #WorldCup2026 #Panama

3. 

   26 May 2026

   Wataru Endo: Japan Can Surprise the World

   Wataru Endo joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Japan’s rise on the world stage, his race to be fit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and why he believes Japan can surprise the world. In Episode 2 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Japan captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo reflects on his World Cup memories, from watching the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup as a child to beating Germany at Qatar 2022. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Endo opens up about recovering from injury, preparing to lead Japan at another major tournament, and the challenge of facing a tough group featuring the Netherlands and Sweden — including some familiar Liverpool teammates. Jackson and Wataru also discuss the demands of the modern football calendar, long-distance travel during international breaks, player workload, FIFPRO’s Global Player Council, life at Liverpool, the intensity of Anfield, Japanese football culture, financial planning for players, and life after football. Subscribe to FIFPRO for more honest conversations with players heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Featuring: Wataru Endo Jackson Irvine Topics covered: Wataru Endo’s World Cup journey Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Japan’s win over Germany at Qatar 2022 Liverpool, Anfield and the Premier League Player workload and international travel FIFPRO Global Player Council Japan’s rise in world football World Cup group draw: Netherlands and Sweden Recovering from injury before the World Cup #FootballersUnfiltered #WorldCup2026 #WataruEndo

4. 

   21 May 2026

   Footballers Unfiltered - Road to the World Cup

   Footballers Unfiltered returns for third season – this time, the players are taking you to the World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is coming. And there’s only one podcast taking fans inside it through the voices of the players living it. Season Three of FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered launches with a new host, a new World Cup backdrop and the same unfiltered honesty that has made the award-winning podcast one of football’s most authentic player-led conversations. A new host takes the hotseat: Jackson Irvine. The Australia international, St. Pauli captain, and co-president of Professional Footballers Australia takes the reins from Joe Hart after two groundbreaking seasons. And what makes this season unlike anything before: Irvine is going to the World Cup too. While preparing for the biggest stage, Irvine – a previous guest on the show – sits down with fellow players living those same consequential months to give viewers and listeners unrivalled insight.

5. 

   21 May 2026

   Pico Lopes: From LinkedIn to the World Cup

   Pico Lopes’ Cape Verde story started in the most unexpected way: with a LinkedIn message he ignored for nine months. Now, he’s heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

6. 

   14 Jan 2026

   Christiane Endler: You can’t be what you can’t see

   Goalkeeper Christiane Endler discusses with host Joe Hart her career, the unique mentality of goalkeepers, and the importance of visibility in women's football, in this interview episode also featuring Karin Sendel.

7. 

   17 Dec 2025

   Leon Balogun: Why we need to talk about player safety

   Host Joe Hart interviews Leon Balogun, a professional footballer, and Gotcha Michel, Deputy Chief Executive of APPI, about player safety, the impact of scrutiny, and how unions address online abuse in football.

8. 

   15 Oct 2025

   Marshal Munesti: Fake Agents is beyond crisis in Africa

   Joe Hart interviews Marshall Munetsi, Zimbabwean international and Wolves midfielder, who highlights the crisis of fake agents in Africa and ways to protect young footballers, while Kgosana Masaseng explores how unions support African players striving for European careers.

9. 

   23 Sept 2025

   Lucy Bronze: My Responsibility To Share My Experience

   England right-back Lucy Bronze discusses her advocacy for change in women's football, the rapid professionalization of the game, and her pursuit of a World Cup title in an interview with Joe Hart.

10. 

    6 Aug 2025

    Jackson Irvine: I’ve never been scared of pushing boundaries

    Australian international Jackson Irvine discusses leadership, identity, and activism with Joe Hart, highlighting his experiences as a Bundesliga midfielder and his passions beyond football in this interview.

11. 

    13 May 2025

    Sara Bjork: Why We Don't Need to Pick Between Football and Family

    Starting a family whilst being an active professional footballer is the focus for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart. We discuss the rigours and demands of what football brings with training and match day, alongside trying to be the version of yourself for your club and teammates. In 2017, FIFPRO issued a global report on employment within football (https://fifpro.org/media/3eols2ok/2017-fifpro-women-football-global-employment-report-final.pdf) that revealed only 2% percent of female players were mothers and that 47% of women footballers had retired early from the game to start a family. Joining Joe is Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir. Sara is a two time champions league winner and former Iceland international, who is currently a player at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. Sara gave us a glimpse into discussions among women footballers at the time. “We women, we speak about family joking around in a way, being like, “Oh, when are you going to have a baby at 40, after your career, or are you going to sacrifice your career?” In order to stop players retiring early, FIFPRO then created maternity regulations, which were later implemented into the game by FIFA in 2021. Sara then made history in 2022 by becoming the first player to win a claim against a club through the FIFA Maternity Regulations (https://fifpro.org/media/avwggshx/pathway-to-maternity-regulations-for-professional-footballers-alexandra-gomez-bruinewoud.pdf). The regulations entitled Sara to full payment throughout her pregnancy and until the start of her maternity leave when at former club Olympique Lyonnais. Sara’s case demonstrated how important it is to regulate minimums and not leave them to the goodwill of parties, even high-profile football clubs. Sara said “It made it very clear for women today that they don't have to choose [between motherhood and football] and they don't have to sacrifice – and that makes me very happy,”. Joe Hart added “Sara’s story helps create awareness of the protections and help pave the way for others,” Joining both Sara and Joe is Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud, the Legal Director at FIFPRO.  Alexandra said “We looked internationally to see if there was any sport that had regulated maternity at international level, and that was not the case,”. Talking candidly, Alexandra tells Joe how she “initiated the discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders, and fought to optimise the protective regulations, to enable women to combine being a parent with their football career.” FIFA then incorporated new regulations about working conditions for professional women footballers with an emphasis on maternity rights on 1 June 2024. In the same year, FIFPRO launched the Postpartum Return to Play Guide (https://fifpro.org/media/5o3ffxf0/fifpro-pprtpg-27-08_en_spread.pdf) to help professional footballers better understand and manage pregnancy and the phase after childbirth. Sara was part of the taskforce of professional women’s players who developed the guide. To discover more about FIFPRO and their 60th anniversary, visit: Follow for more on X: https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2 (https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/ (https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/ (https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro) This is a podcast made by Message Heard for FIFPRO. Host: Joe Hart Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Producer: Mark Kendrick Production Coordinator: Kirsty McLean Videographer and editor: Ethan Judd Audio and Mix Engineer: Lizzy Andrews

12. 

    15 Apr 2025

    Molly Bartrip: Football's Relationship with Food

    Football’s relationship with food is the focus for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart. This is because, in 2024, FIFPRO revealed that one-in-five women's players experienced disordered eating over a 12-month period, according to a survey (https://fifpro.org/en/supporting-players/health-and-performance/drake-football-study/new-drake-football-study-findings-unmask-mental-health-symptoms-in-women-s-football) of footballers participating in a study tracking their health. Disordered eating is an unhealthy relationship with food which covers many behaviours such as restricting food intake and excessive exercising. Some thoughts, behaviours and attitudes will overlap with eating disorders, but that term is reserved for those experiences which have received clinical diagnosis. Molly Bartrip, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a defender, joins Joe to talk about how she came to realise the hard way that food is her fuel. Molly says “every pre-match I have pasta, regardless if it's 12 o'clock kick-off. Before I would have like a slice of toast maybe in the evening before a game, then I had that reality check that I was not performing and going to get dropped”. Molly talks candidly with Joe about her battle with anorexia nervosa, depression and anxiety. It started at 14 years of age after an injury set-back when on international duty with England, at a time when she was playing for Arsenal’s youth sides. “For some reason my mind just had a switch. I didn’t feel good enough. I had no control over England selection, Arsenal selection, but I had control of what I was putting in my body. I'm just not going to eat,” Now 28, Molly has over 10 years’ experience playing in England’s Women’s Super League, having represented Reading before moving to current club Spurs in July 2021. She talks openly about mental health and says “We put so much emphasis on injuries in football, but why do we not for the mental side of the game? I do think there's a long way to go, but we’re getting there. Both Joe and Molly are joined by Dr Alex Culvin, a former player with AZ Alkmaar, Everton, Leeds United and Liverpool, and now FIFPRO’s Director of Global Policy and Strategic Relations for Women’s Football. As part of Alex’s PHD research in 2019, she investigated the health effects on WSL players after England's top-flight became professionalised and found evidence of fat shaming and eating disorders amongst players. Alex says "In the women's game, where we have this acceleration of professionalisation in some parts of the world, we can't forget the key components that enable players to perform and feel like they can thrive as a human being; nutrition, mental health support and psychologists are fundamental to resource the game properly and ensure that we have players who feel supported." If you are affected by what you hear, we encourage you to seek help in the following ways: Check with your GP and for national hotlines Talk to a trained therapist/mental health professional and check therapy services specialised in eating disorders for individuals Check online resources available in your language To discover more about FIFPRO and their 60th anniversary, visit: Follow for more on X: https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2 (https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/ (https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/ (https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all) YouTube:: https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro) This is a podcast made by Message Heard for FIFPRO. Host: Joe Hart Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Producer: Mark Kendrick Production Coordinator: Kirsty McLean Videographer and editor: Ethan Judd Audio and Mix Engineer: Lizzy Andrews

13. 

    18 Mar 2025

    Josh Cavallo: Inclusive Spaces in Men's Football

    Australian midfielder Josh Cavallo is the guest for this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, reflecting on the last four years since coming out publicly as gay in professional men’s football. At the time in October 2021, Cavallo, then 21, was the only current openly gay male top-flight professional footballer. He made the announcement in a video and open letter on social media (https://x.com/AdelaideUnited/status/1453173351396958208). Josh tells Joe candidly about the moment he first told his coaches “it felt like 15 kilos of weight had been lifted off my shoulders” and he went on to having the best training session. He explained why he decided to let the world know “I got to a point in my life where I wanted to live authentically; I felt quite stuck and it did affect my mental health quite a lot. Looking back, it was the best move and decision I've ever made”. In 2025 FIFA estimates there are around 130,000 professional football players in the men’s game, yet there are only a few current active players who have come out publicly, such as Jake Daniels and Jakub Jankto. It raises questions about how men’s football can be more inclusive to create a supportive environment where gay players feel comfortable about being open with their sexual orientation. In the episode, Joe Hart acknowledged that “men's football still has a long way to go before everyone truly feels included, as well as represented in the sport”. The former England international said: “I've been around football for a long, long time. Conversations about sexuality, gay players being in the dress room, it's always been a hot topic, something that the media seemed to drive a lot more than players, if I'm being brutally honest, but it felt like it was always there. It felt like a huge relief when [Josh] stepped up in 2021 and was just honest.”Joe said “I look in dressing rooms now and towards the end of my career, I was lucky enough to realise that just being yourself and being honest was such an empowering thing.” FIFPRO’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Erica Puppo, who joined Cavallo and Hart for the episode, said: “I think now, with stories like Josh, there's more and more awareness that these conversations need to happen, and they need to happen within a men's football context as well”. This show contains references to LGBTQIA+ mental health struggles. If you are affected by what you hear, we encourage you to seek help in the following ways: Check with your GP and for national hotlines Talk to a trained therapist/mental health professional and check therapy services specialised in LGBTQIA+ individuals Check online resources available in your language To discover more about FIFPRO and their 60th anniversary, visit: Follow for more on X: https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2 (https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/ (https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/ (https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all) YouTube:: https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro) This is a podcast made by Message Heard for FIFPRO. Host: Joe Hart Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Producer: Mark Kendrick Production Coordinator: Kirsty McLean Videographer and editor: Ethan Judd Audio and mix Engineer: Lizzy Andrews

14. 

    11 Feb 2025

    Samir Arab: Match-Fixers Stole Two Years of My Career

    In this episode we explore match-fixing and the threat it poses to open and fair competition today. To do this, Joe Hart is joined by Samir Arab. Samir plays as a defender for Maltese club Balzan. In 2016, Samir met a former teammate in a cafe and a chat over a coffee led to Samir being banned from football for two years. Did you know that 1 in 10 of footballers today will be approached in their careers to fix a match, or part of a match, for the benefit of others. There are many ways in which match-fixing is being tackled, and in this show we look at what match-fixing is, and explore how simple it can be for a player to be mixed up in it. We then look at the work which FIFPRO have undertaken to create a ‘red button’ app where players can anonymously report any approach to fix a match. In 2016, a former team-mate of Arab’s met him in a café and tried to convince the defender to manipulate a Malta U-21 game by losing each half by one goal in return for thousands of euros. Arab refused – the game finished 1-0 and Arab was praised by his coach for his performance – and he later cooperated with police investigations, despite fearing repercussions from criminal gangs, which led to court convictions for the perpetrators. However, football authorities hit Arab with a two-year ban as he did not immediately inform them about the match-fixing approach. Joining both Samir and Joe is Roy Vermeer. Roy is the legal director at FIFPRO and personally represented Samir as his case was heard. Roy talks about the significance of the Red Button app  and results he’s seen since the implementation and shares with us other cases in world football. This show contains references to suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles. If you are affected by what you hear, we encourage you to seek help at these places. Samaritans International https://samaritanshope.org/resources/international-help/ (https://samaritanshope.org/resources/international-help/) Mental health support https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/ (https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/where-to-start/) This episode is uniquely available to watch as a video on Spotify. To discover more about FIFPRO and their 60th anniversary, visit: Follow for more on X:https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2 (https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2) Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/ (https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/) Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/ (https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/) LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all) YouTube::https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos) TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro) This is a podcast made by Message Heard for FIFPRO.

15. 

    15 Jan 2025

    Giorgio Chiellini: Life Beyond Football

    For the first episode in the series, Joe Hart is joined by Juventus and Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini to discuss life beyond football. During his trophy-laden career, Giorgio attended university in his early twenties to study business administration. Even today he recalls the experience fondly, “what I didn’t expect was that my journey at university was also really useful for my sports performances. It was a way in which I was able to open my mind, be focused and train the brain in a different way”. The chat with Giorgio highlights the importance of why players today should be thinking about their life after football, with some key advice and personal antidotes from both Joe and Giorgio who both have taken the leap into a second life recently. Joe and Giorgio also talk about some key moments in the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy, and whether his interaction with Harry Kane just before the championship-deciding penalty shootout was gamesmanship. Joining both Joe and Giorgio is Chris Higgins. Chris himself is a former player in Scotland and made over 560 senior appearances. Since retiring he has become the Personal Development Manager at PFA Scotland. Chris shares the observations he sees with footballers today thinking about life after football. He talks about how PFA Scotland provides training for all manner of jobs and industries, even including being a professional barista. For more on PFA Scotland and the initiatives they run, visit https://pfascotland.co.uk/education/ (https://pfascotland.co.uk/education/) This episode is uniquely available to watch as a video on Spotify. To discover more about FIFPRO and their 60th anniversary, visit: Follow for more on X: https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2 (https://x.com/FIFPro?mx=2) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/ (https://www.instagram.com/fifpro/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/ (https://www.facebook.com/FIFPRO/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fifpro/posts/?feedView=all) YouTube:: https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFProTV/videos) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro (https://www.tiktok.com/@fifpro) Footballers Unfiltered is a Message Heard production for FIFPRO.

16. 

    10 Jan 2025

    Footballers Unfiltered

    Join ex-England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart for Footballers Unfiltered. This series, brought to you by FIFPRO, is a project which explores what life as a professional footballer is really like. With a new episode each month through 2025, expect topics that explore both the men’s and women’s game, highlighting player stories and challenges which many people don’t see, and shining a light on how player unions are tackling these issues.

Who has been a guest on Footballers Unfiltered

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Christiane Endler
• Karin Sendel
• Leon Balogun
• Gotcha Michel
• Marshall Munetsi

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

21 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

25

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Footballers Unfiltered

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.