On this episode of The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered, Chris Horwedel talks with Jack Worswick of Last Word on Sports about one of the wildest collapses in modern English football: Leicester City’s fall from Premier League champions to League One.

Jack explains his background as a Leicester supporter and writer, and how difficult it has become to cover the club analytically while also having an emotional connection to it. The conversation frames Leicester’s journey through the impossible 2015-16 Premier League title, the FA Cup win, European nights, and a Champions League quarterfinal run — followed by relegations, financial problems, supporter frustration, and a toxic atmosphere around the club.

Chris and Jack dig into how Leicester’s miracle success changed expectations and pushed the club into a different transfer market. Jack points to the summer of 2021 as a major turning point, when Leicester stopped selling one key player per year and instead spent heavily on players like Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumaré, Jannik Vestergaard, and Ryan Bertrand. Those moves failed to deliver the next step, and without Champions League revenue, the financial damage began to stack up.

The episode also breaks down Leicester’s recruitment issues, including overpaying for the wrong profiles, failing to sell players at the right time, losing players for free, and carrying Premier League-level wages into the Championship and now League One. Harry Winks, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, Oliver Skipp, Jordan Ayew, and others come up as examples of the kinds of squad-building decisions that have frustrated fans.

A major focus is Leicester’s relegation to League One. Jack says the 6-point deduction hurt, but supporters see the bigger issue as years of mismanagement, poor recruitment, coaching instability, a fractured squad, and players who lacked the fight needed for a Championship survival battle. The disconnect between fans, players, and ownership is described as one of the biggest changes from the title-winning era.

Chris and Jack also discuss the managerial picture, including the failed Steve Cooper appointment, Gary Rowett’s short spell, instability around Marti Cifuentes, and the arrival of Russell Martin. Martin is viewed as ambitious but divisive, with questions about whether his possession-heavy style can work in League One’s more physical, set-piece-driven environment.

Looking ahead, Jack says Leicester’s priorities are clear: trim the wage bill, move on players who do not want to be there, bring in proven League One performers, find a reliable striker, and rebuild trust with supporters. He says anything short of winning League One would feel like a disappointment, given the size of the club and the danger of staying down.

The episode also looks at key players and prospects, including Harry Souttar as a possible Wrexham target, Abdul Fatawu’s likely departure, Jeremy Monga’s move to Manchester City, Ben Nelson’s future, and academy names like Louis Page, Sammy Braybrooke, Jake Evans, Badia Luko, and Lorenz Hutchinson. Jack stresses that Leicester’s young players could be vital both on the pitch and as future transfer assets.

Chris and Jack also touch on the 2026 World Cup, including England’s win over Mexico, the controversy around FIFA reversing Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension, and how strange it feels for Leicester fans to watch the World Cup while preparing for life in League One.

The episode closes by asking whether Leicester is now a cautionary tale for ambitious clubs outside the Premier League’s biggest financial powers. Jack argues that Leicester’s aggressive push toward the Champions League, failed spending, and financial pressure show how thin the margin is for clubs trying to break into the elite. Ultimately, the conversation captures Leicester City’s rise, collapse, and uncertain rebuild — and why this League One season could define the club’s future.

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On this episode of The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered, Chris Horwedel sits down with Warshan Hussin of Soccer Without Borders for a powerful conversation about soccer, refugee identity, community, trauma, belonging, and the life-changing impact of the beautiful game.

Warshan shares his journey from Iraq to the United States after his family was forced to flee when his father was kidnapped and tortured by Al-Qaeda. After spending several years in Syria, Warshan arrived in Baltimore as a young refugee trying to learn a new language, adapt to a new school system, and understand where he fit in. He explains how Soccer Without Borders became much more than a soccer program — it became a family, a safe place, and the first space where he felt like he could breathe, connect, and simply be a kid again.

The conversation explores how Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a tool for mentorship, education, emotional support, and community-building for immigrant and refugee youth. Warshan talks about the challenges newcomer families face, from navigating school and bills to building a life in a country where parents and children are often learning the system at the same time. He also explains how SWB coaches provided the kind of support, guidance, and cultural understanding that helped keep him and many others on the right path.

Warshan reflects on becoming a team captain, high school standout, Maryland Player of the Week, college player at Stevenson, coach, staff member, and eventually a member of the Soccer Without Borders Board of Directors. He opens up about the injury that ended his playing path, the difficult period that followed, and how returning to Soccer Without Borders as a coach helped him rediscover purpose by mentoring kids who reminded him of himself.

Chris and Warshan also discuss racism, discrimination, the immigrant experience in America, the power of representation in coaching, and what it means for former participants to return and lead the next generation. Warshan explains why alumni coaches can read the room differently, build trust quickly, and help newcomer youth believe that they can dream beyond survival.

The episode also touches on the World Cup, Iraq’s emotional return to the tournament, the meaning of national anthems, Kylian Mbappé’s historic scoring pace, and why soccer carries such deep cultural importance for nations and communities around the world. Warshan closes by sharing what Soccer Without Borders needs most: support, awareness, volunteers, donations, and people willing to recognize the humanity and potential of every young person who walks through the door.

For more information, check out the Soccer Without Borders website at: https://www.soccerwithoutborders.org/

And if you're interested, consider making a donation: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/soccerwithoutborders

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On this episode of The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered, Chris Horwedel is joined by The New Saints chairman Mike Harris for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most successful and debated clubs in Welsh football.

The interview centers on TNS’s rise from domestic powerhouse to European regular, beginning with Harris’ documentary, The New Saints: The Road to Europe — The Mike Harris Story, and how it captures both the club’s ambitions and Harris’ personal role in building the project. Chris and Mike discuss the origins of TNS, Harris’ background as an entrepreneur, the sale of Total Network Solutions to BT, and the mindset that has driven him to professionalize a club operating inside the Cymru Premier.

The conversation also explores what makes TNS so dominant, from financial investment and recruitment to structure, standards, staff, and the day-to-day professionalism behind the scenes. Harris is asked about Craig Harrison’s success as manager, the club’s player profile, the challenges of recruiting to the Cymru Premier, and how TNS keeps pushing itself domestically while chasing bigger nights in Europe.

Chris and Mike also dig into the club’s historic Conference League run, Park Hall’s long-term stadium ambitions, UEFA Category 4 requirements, and whether the club can become a regular league-phase European side. The interview goes deeper into the bigger identity questions around TNS: whether they are the best club in Wales, whether they would ever consider entering the English pyramid, and how the club balances its Oswestry and Llansantffraid roots.

The episode closes with a look at the future of Welsh domestic football, TNS’s role in raising standards, the club’s attendance challenges, Mike Harris’ wider football ambitions, and what his legacy at the club may ultimately look like.

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Thought for 7s

0:47 – Chris Horwedel opens The Beautiful Game, Unfiltered with an episode-zero World Cup special, introducing the new soccer podcast and setting up a full group-by-group preview using odds from oddsmakers.

1:49 – Expanded World Cup format explained, including the 48-team field, 12 groups of four, automatic advancement for the top two teams, and the importance of third-place teams in this year’s tournament.

3:54 – Group A preview covers Mexico, South Korea, Czech Republic, and South Africa, with discussion of home-field energy, Mexico’s attacking options, South Korea’s star power, Czech physicality, and South Africa’s defensive foundation.

7:19 – Group B breakdown features Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Qatar, focusing on Switzerland’s reliability, Canada’s host-nation advantage, Bosnia’s veteran quality, and Qatar’s tournament experience.

10:53 – Group C preview looks at Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, including Brazil’s elite talent, Morocco’s recent tournament pedigree, Scotland’s experienced core, and Haiti’s tough draw.

14:44 – Group D discussion covers the United States, Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay, with Chris examining U.S. pressure at home, Turkey’s young attacking talent, Australia’s structure, and Paraguay’s ability to make the group chaotic.

20:48 – Group E preview features Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao, highlighting Germany’s creativity, Ecuador’s balance, Ivory Coast’s athleticism, and Curaçao’s underdog World Cup story.

25:07 – Group F breakdown covers Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia, with a focus on Japan’s tactical growth, Sweden’s attack, the Netherlands’ star names, and Tunisia’s ability to stay organized.

29:19 – Group G preview looks at Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, including Belgium’s transition from its golden generation, Egypt’s balance around Mohamed Salah, Iran’s experience, and New Zealand’s long-shot path.

32:49 – Group H discussion covers Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde, with Spain’s title-contender profile, Uruguay’s intensity, Saudi Arabia’s tournament experience, and Cape Verde’s difficult challenge.

35:43 – Group I preview features France, Norway, Senegal, and Iraq, including France’s tournament favorite status, Kylian Mbappé’s star power, Norway’s attacking talent, Senegal’s balance, and Iraq’s difficult draw.

40:36 – Group J breakdown covers Argentina, Austria, Algeria, and Jordan, with discussion of Argentina’s tournament know-how, Austria’s pressing system, Algeria’s creative talent, and Jordan’s uphill path.

44:34 – Group K preview looks at Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan, focusing on Portugal’s depth beyond Cristiano Ronaldo, Colombia’s attacking quality, Congo’s physical edge, and Uzbekistan’s first-time World Cup story.

49:39 – Group L discussion covers England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, including England’s attacking talent, Croatia’s tournament experience, Ghana’s dangerous core, and Panama’s veteran group.

53:58 – Chris wraps the group preview by revisiting his boldest tournament angles, notable team futures, player award markets, and World Cup betting storylines from oddsmakers.

55:26 – Final thoughts introduce The Beautiful Game, Unfiltered as a new soccer show, preview upcoming guests, and close the World Cup episode-zero special.

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