England comes to Riga — but what does this clash reveal about Baltic football?

In this episode, we dig into Latvia’s big test against England, why the Baltic national teams keep struggling, and whether domestic leagues are helping or holding them back. From Riga to Kaunas and Tallinn, we explore whether the Baltics are ready to take the next step — or stuck repeating old mistakes.

(00:00:57) England comes to Riga — what to expect at Daugava Stadium and how Tuchel’s squad looks

(00:02:10) Latvia’s mindset problem — why the team keeps collapsing in first halves

(00:06:11) Are Latvia really the best in the Baltics? Stats vs performance

(00:10:13) Should Baltic leagues protect domestic players or open up?

(00:13:49) Inside the domestic leagues — Kaunas, Vilnius, Riga and more

(00:17:16) Can Kaunas claim Lithuania’s first A Lyga title in years?

(00:21:27) Riga FC’s dominance and RFS’ fading fortunes in the Virslīga

(00:25:27) The rumour of a 23-year-old coach — too young for top flight?

(00:28:30) Relegation battles: Riteriai, Metta, Super Nova, Tammeka, and who is coming up for next season

(00:32:45) What the Baltic leagues must fix to stay competitive in Europe

(00:38:10) Final thoughts — can Baltic football finally break through?

👉 Subscribe for more Baltic football talk and visit balticfootballnews.com for match reports, league updates, and insights from across the region.

#FootballPodcast #EuropeanFootball #InternationalFootball #WorldCup2026Qualifiers #FootballTalk #SoccerPodcast #LVAENG #Alyga #Virsliga #Premiumliiga #Riga #Kaunas #Vilnius #Tallinn #Latvia #Lithuania #Estonia #Hein #Englandaway #calcio #LTUPOL #ESTITA #football #soccer

FK Panevėžys head coach Roland Vrabec joins us fresh off lifting the Lithuanian Cup. In this wide-ranging conversation, the German coach opens up about his journey to the Baltics, the challenge of rebuilding Panevėžys after a title hangover, and the tactical plan that stunned Hegelmann in the Cup final. From life in a small Lithuanian town to the thrill of European qualification, Vrabec shares an honest and fascinating inside look at Baltic football.

(00:00:17) Cup win reaction: emotions still fresh

(00:03:36) Why Panevėžys? Taking the Baltic gamble

(00:10:19) Rebuilding after a championship collapse

(00:17:15) First impressions of Lithuanian football

(00:22:09) Cup final build-up: conditions and pressure

(00:26:15) Tactical plan to beat Hegelmann

(00:28:19) Psychology of the final and the winning goal

What did you make of Vrabec’s tactical breakdown? Can Panevėžys surprise in Europe next season? Will Vrabec stay? Share your thoughts in the comments!

👉 For the latest news, analysis, and stories from Baltic football, visit balticfootballnews.com

#lithuania #football #coach #tactics #soccer #europeanfootball #lithuanianfootball #sport #interview

How does a footballer from London end up fishing in Daugavpils? We sit down with Wasiri Williams, the London-born defender making his mark in the Latvian Virslīga with BFC Daugavpils. Williams shares what it’s like to swap London for Latgale, giving an inside look at the realities of football in Latvia and the challenges of adapting to a new culture and style of play.⏱️ Key moments:(00:02:15) First impressions of Daugavpils and Latvian football culture(00:08:42) “Nothing has been easy” – on struggles adapting on and off the pitch(00:11:50) Facing off against Ramires, Regža and Pulis(00:14:30) Building resilience and finding support in difficult moments(00:20:05) Future goals and ambitions in the Virslīga and beyondFrom daily life in Daugavpils to ambitions on the European stage, Williams’ story is a unique glimpse into the journey of English players abroad and the growth of Baltic football.🎧 Subscribe for more interviews and stories from across the Baltic game.Visit www.balticfootballnews.com for all the latest football news from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia!#football #soccer #daugavpils #latvia #london #interview

The Baltic Football Podcast returns with a special deep dive into the 2025 European qualification campaigns. From Lithuania’s brightest moments to Latvia’s heartbreak and Estonia’s struggles, we relive the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of this summer’s Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League qualifiers.

(00:00:30) Lithuania’s Bright Spot: Žalgiris Kaunas on the Rise

(00:07:27) Riga’s Rollercoaster: Latvia’s European Highs

(00:10:31) Star Players Who Shone This Summer

(00:15:32) Baltic Blunders: When Experience Runs Out

(00:20:19) Costly Mistakes & Red Card Chaos

(00:22:26) The Harsh Truth: Zero Clubs in Europe

(00:25:02) From Heroes to Zeroes: RFS Collapse

(00:26:41) Vilnius in Crisis: Champions to Chaos

(00:29:40) Final Whistle – Lessons for Baltic Football

No Baltic club reached the group stages — so what went wrong? And where do the Baltics go from here?

👉 Subscribe for more in-depth Baltic football coverage

👉 Comment below: Which club do you think will bounce back next season?

For football news from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, follow www.balticfootallnews.com

#football #soccer #latvia #lithuania #estonia #championsleague #conferenceleague #europeanfootball #europaleague #ucl #uel #uecl

Can Riga FC pull off a European upset, or will Sparta Praha’s firepower prove too much of an obstacle? In this episode, we break down everything you need to know ahead of the UEFA Conference League play-off round clash. From Sparta’s resurgent form and key stars to Riga’s chances of making history, this is the ultimate preview for fans following Baltic and Central European football.

Joining us is Czech journalist and die-hard Sparta fan Filip Horký to discuss Sparta’s resurgence, their key players, and what Riga will be up against in Prague and Riga.

👉 Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more episodes of the Baltic Football Podcast. Join the conversation on X, Instagram, and in the comments — we’d love to hear your predictions for Sparta Praha vs Riga FC.

🌍 For the latest Baltic football news, features, and analysis, visit balticfootballnews.com

In this episode, we sit down with Moshe Ziat, Israeli football commentator and lifelong Beitar Jerusalem fan, to discuss the historic, cultural, and tactical dimensions of Beitar ahead of their UEFA Conference League qualifier against Riga FC.

🔔 Subscribe for more exclusive interviews and Baltic football coverage.

(00:01:25) – Beitar 101: Who Are They?

(00:04:45) – European Drama & Bucharest Blunders

(00:07:55) – Zionism Meets Football

(00:17:10) – Passionate Fans & Misunderstood Identity

(00:23:00) – Controversies & UEFA Concerns

(00:27:30) – Tactics & Team Shape

(00:29:00) – Player Spotlight & Predictions

For latest info about football in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, visit www.balticfootballnews.com and follow us on social media!

#conferenceleague #betar #beitar #rigafc #uecl #balticfootball #football #soccer #riga #israel

Swedish football journalist Josip Ladan joins us to preview Malmö FF’s highly anticipated Champions League qualifier against RFS. From tactical insights and key players to Malmö’s European mindset, this is the ultimate pre-match breakdown ahead of this tie.

(01:22) – Malmö FF's origin story & fan culture

(03:24) – Malmö’s golden years & European legacy

(04:58) – 2025 season challenges: form, injuries, and tactics

(08:40) – Rydström’s coaching philosophy and tactical stubbornness

(12:45) – How Malmö adapts to low-block teams like RFS (in Europe)

(14:20) – Central midfield engine: Lasse Berg-Jonsson & Otto Rosengren

(17:08) – Youth vs experience in Malmö’s squad

(18:35) – Spotlight on Taha Ali: the futsal-turned-football star

(21:24) – Weaknesses to exploit: striker shortage & wing fatigue

(23:30) – Malmö’s threat on set pieces

(24:45) – Prediction & reflection on Malmö’s Baltic trauma

Will RFS pull off another Baltic upset? Can Malmö overcome their striker woes? Josip breaks it all down with honesty and humour.

Traveling to Latvia for the match? Check our fan guide: www.balticfootballnews.com

Subscribe for more Baltic football interviews, match previews, and exclusive insights!

#RFS #malmoff #ChampionsLeague #BalticFootball #UCL #Football #SwedishFootball #LatvianFootball #riga #sweden #latvia #malmö #soccer #europeanfootball

It’s been a wild start to European competition for clubs from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia! In this episode, we break down the highs and lows of Champions League and Conference League Qualification Round 1 — including the dramatic RFS vs Levadia Baltic Derby, shocking eliminations, tactical surprises, and a look ahead to Round 2.We also explore what this means for UEFA coefficients, club development, and the growing identity of Baltic football in Europe.👇 Full breakdown below!⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps:(01:03) – Champions League Overview(01:30) – RFS vs Levadia: Baltic Derby Breakdown(05:40) – Žalgiris Vilnius Collapse & 14-Penalty Shootout(08:30) – What’s Next for RFS & Levadia in QR2(10:00) – Latvia’s Early Exits: Auda & Daugavpils Disappointments(13:45) – Hegelmann Crash Out to St. Patrick’s(15:20) – Kauno Žalgiris Cruise Past Penybont(16:55) – Banga Draw Rosenborg: Mission Impossible?(18:30) – Paide Smash Magpies, Set Up AIK Stockholm Battle(19:45) – Kalju’s Surprise Win Over Partizani(21:00) – QR2 Preview: What’s at Stake for Baltic ClubsFor away fans travelling to Baltic matches, check out our free fan guide: https://balticfootballnews.comFull match stats, previews, and more on the website!

Join us as we sit down with Grégory Vignal — former Liverpool, Lens and Rangers defender and current FC RFS assistant coach.In this exclusive interview, Gregory shares his insights into Latvian and Baltic football, the technical strengths and physical gaps he’s observed, and how he’s applying lessons from elite clubs like Liverpool to develop players at RFS.-Gregory’s first impressions of football in Latvia and the Baltics-How Baltic players compare technically and physically to those in Scotland and England -The importance of speed, technique, and a “no excuses” mentality in modern football -Life in Riga and his experience working with RFS -RFS’s ambitions in the domestic league and European competitionsWhether you’re a Baltic football fan, an RFS supporter, or just love hearing from pros who’ve played at the highest level, this conversation is a must-watch!👉 Subscribe for more Baltic football interviews and insights.👍 Like the video if you enjoy it, and drop your questions for Gregory in the comments below!#GregoryVignal #RFS #BalticFootball #LatvianFootball #Liverpool #RangersFC #soccer #championsleague #riga

This week, Baltic football takes center stage in Europe! Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian clubs are gearing up for crucial clashes in both the UEFA Champions League and the Conference League qualifiers.What to look out for:-The Baltic derby between Levadia and RFS in the Champions League-Žalgiris Vilnius battling Hamrun Spartans from Malta-Kauno Žalgiris heavy favorites against Penybont of Wales-Nõmme Kalju, Daugavpils, Hegelmann, Auda, and Flora Tallinn chasing Conference League success-Key odds and predictions for every match-What’s at stake for Baltic nations in UEFA rankingsCan the Baltic underdogs spring surprises on the European stage? Who will carry the region’s hopes forward?Don’t miss this full preview of all the action, with insights into the teams, form, and what’s riding on each match! Go to BalticFootballNews.com for in-depth analysis and latest football news from the Baltics!Like, comment, and subscribe for more Baltic football updates and European football previews!#BalticFootball #ChampionsLeague #ConferenceLeague #Lithuania #Latvia #Estonia #UEFA #FootballNews #soccer #virsliga #alyga #premiumliiga

In this episode, we catch up on the Baltics leagues to see What's Hot and What's Not in Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian football before delving into the hype and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in football - from how it's been used elsewhere to what are the potential use cases in the context of the Baltics.(00:02:00) Riga FC are Hot(00:04:22) Riga FC Women are HOT!!(00:08:00) FS Jelgava are Hot(00:09:52) FK Suduva are Hot(00:14:00) Kauno Zalgiris are Hot (and Vilnius Zalgiris are Not hot)(00:15:40) Flora are Hot(00:17:37) Standout moments thus far(00:19:07) Looking ahead to Europe(00:23:05) Dainava are ICE Cold(00:26:05) Riteriai are Not hot (again)(00:28:27) Metta's attitude is Not hot(00:32:26) Artificial Intelligence in football(00:55:01) Frank's and Dmitrijs's suggestions for trying AI#football #ai #artificialintelligence #soccer #latvia #lithuania #estonia #virsliga #alyga #premiumliiga

Recent weeks kicked up some alarming news about the President of the Estonian FA allegedly blacklisting referees he doesn't like and the owners of FK Riteriai allegedly embezzling funds intended for running of the club. As we unpack all of this and catch up on the football side of things across the A Lyga, Virslīga and the Premium liiga, these developments also promted us to take a closer look at the quality of governance in football in the Baltics. Hence, the 'Dodgy Governance Index' was born, ranking the governance structures of all 30 clubs from 'most dodgy' to 'not dodgy'. Where does your club fall on this spectrum?

(00:01:05) Premium liiga update

(00:06:06) Virslīga update

(00:13:17) A Lyga update

(00:23:55) Does Frank know what "Žalgiris" means?

(00:24:55) Referee blacklisting in Estonia

(00:34:28) Embezzlement scandal at Riteriai

(00:41:20) The Dodgy Governance Index

For latest and most up to date news from the world of Baltic football in English, follow balticfootballnews.com

#latvia #lithuania #estonia #football #soccer #governance #finance #alyga #virsliga #premiumliiga #news #footballnews

Baltic football is now underway, so we catch-up on what’s been happening before the first international break of 2025 – whether it’s the surprising results in Estonia, edge-of-your seat friction in Latvia, and absolute mayhem in Lithuania, the start of the season in the region is exceeding all expectations.

For the second part of the episode, Frank sits down with the President of the Latvian Football Federation, Vadims Ļašenko, to find out about the plans and activities around developing professional men’s and women’s football in Latvia.

(00:01:23) Premium liiga update

(00:04:28) Virsliga update

(00:05:43) A Lyga update

(00:11:00) What is the impact of the increased foreign player registration fee?

(00:20:56) The new LFF/Virsliga working group

(00:24:07) Why is Latvia losing so many Champion clubs?

(00:33:14) What is LFF doing to raise the level of lower divisions?

(00:35:05) Why is Latvia the only European country without a Cat IV stadium?

(00:42:45) Goals for the National Teams in this cycle

(00:54:56) Latvians in Scotland

(00:56:16) Working with the Latvian diaspora

(01:01:13) Futsal EURO 2026 in Latvia and Lithuania - what to expect?

(01:06:04) Draw for the RFS goodie bag winner!

For latest in Baltic football, go to balticfootballnews.com and follow us on social media!

#latvia #lithuania #estonia #football #soccer #virsliga#alyga #premiumliiga #futbols #jalgpall #futbolas #baltics #futsal

Football in the Baltics is finally back! As A Lyga, Virsliga and Premium liiga are all about to kick off, we offer a quick, 3-in-1 preview to this year's season in each of the Baltic nations. From how we got to where we are, to who are the players to watch, to our predictions for each of the competitions in 30 minutes or less - we got you covered! (00:01:01) A Lyga season preview(00:07:17) A Lyga players to watch(00:10:45) A Lyga 2025 predictions(00:11:10) Virsliga season preview(00:17:34) Virsliga players to watch(00:20:53) Virsliga predictions(00:21:13) Premium liiga season preview(00:24:52) Premium liiga players to watch(00:25:59) Premium liiga predictionsOur friends at RFS have some merch for you! To win a 2025 design RFS scarf and hat to keep you warm during the chilly Baltic spring, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave a comment with the name of the team that you support under this episode. Winner will be chosen on March 16th!For latest football news from the Baltics, go to balticfootballnews.com#football #soccer #latvia #lithuania #estonia #virsliga #alyga #premiumliiga #jalgpall #futbols #futbolas

In this ultimate superhero showdown of Baltic Football News, the podcast team takes on the editorial team to find out who knows more about football in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia (or whether any of us know anything at all!)!Do you think you could do better? Share how many of the questions you got right in the comments below!

For all information about Baltic football in English and for latest football news from the region, including Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian players abroad, visit www.balticfootballnews.com

It's time to talk about Baltic football.

Why care about Baltic football, you may ask? It is exciting. It is unpredictable. It is accessible. And, it is authentic. For us, it is also local and we are very excited to expand our aperture to include Lithuania and Estonia to our previous coverage of Latvia. Whether you reside in one of the Baltic states and want to learn about what's going on next door or you are one of our many international listeners with great taste in football, we and our pan-Baltic team of football aficionados are here to cut through the language barrier and expose Baltic football in all its glory.

In this first episode of the Baltic Football Podcast, we talk about the new format before covering some of the key stories from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from January 2025. Tune in and dive in!

(00:00:01) Why do we care about Baltic football?

(00:07:05) Fans secure a home stadium purchase for FK Zalgiris!

(00:11:50) Gvidas Gineitis scores his first Serie A goal

(00:14:14) The football love story called FK Grobina

(00:19:47) Valmiera FC shown the Virsliga door

(00:22:03) Dream come true for Tamm, "the Estonian Haaland"

(00:25:15) Paide lead the way in girl's football

(00:28:03) Our favourite pan-Baltic friendlies

For football news from the Baltics, make sure to check out our brand new website - balticfootballnews.com

The Europa league stage is set to conclude with an intriguing clash between two teams that know one another quite well - FC RFS and FC Dynamo Kyiv. While both teams got some results in their previous match (RFS beating Ajax 1-0 and Dynamo drawing Galatasaray 3-3) both are also eliminated and have nothing but respect and UEFA money and coefficient points to play for.

For this final episode of this unexpectedly, yet delightfully long series on next opponents of Latvian clubs in Europe which started last summer (!), we sit down with a British-Ukrainian sports journalist Andrew Todos, who also hosts the podcast Zorya Londonsk, to discuss the upcoming Dynamo Kyiv fixture in Hamburg on January 30, 2025.

For more information (and ALL information) about Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian football, please visit balticfootballnews.com

On January 23, 2025, FC RFS will take on Dutch giants AFC Ajax in the Europa League at the Daugava Stadium, with over 2,500 Ajax supporters expected to travel to Riga. For RFS, who have never played competitive football in January, preventing Ajax from coming away with 3 points will be a monumental challenge. As anticipation builds, we explore what the Latvian champions and their fans can expect from this formidable Ajax side. To learn more, we interviewed Thijs Zwagerman - journalist for the ESPN Netherlands and host of the ‘Het Sportpaleis’ podcast. For more information about football in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and for latest news in Baltic football, visit www.balticfootballnews.com

Europa league continues and Riga is about to welcome Greek champions PAOK as they travel to a snowy Latvia to challenge FC RFS this Thursday. Latvian champions, of course, are undefeated at home, so this one should be extra interesting! To find out more about PAOK, we sat down with Dimitris Vasilakos from Betarades.gr and the "You'll never stand alone' podcast. MANSCAPED.COM know that our listeners are some of the most attractive human beings out there and they want to do their bit to help others see it too! To this end, they have just released a brand new foil shaver and stubble trimmer - the Chairman Pro (what a name!) and are willing to give you 20% off on your order with manscaped.com + free shipping when you use promo code LFP20. Help the podcast and help yourself to look neat and fresh with their genuinely very impressive range of products. Franks likes the shaver and Dmitrijs is really impressed with the boxers and the care products! Also, we highly recommend the Bradt Travel Guide to Latvia by Paul Brummel! It is a legitimately excellent guide (even approved by Dmitrijs, wow!) that will make your visit to Latvia much, much more special and enjoyable! Bradt offer our listeners a sweet deal with a LATVIA30 promo code! #paok #rfs #rfspao #teammanscaped #europaleague #football #soccer #riga

Virsliga season 2024 is over and what a ride it's been! RFS won the League and the Cup, Valmiera almost ceased to exist, and Daugavpils made a legitimate run for Europe! We sit down to review the ups and the downs, to reflect on our start-of-season predictions and review how our 'players to watch' did, to award our season awards, and to ponder on what to look forward to next year!

(00:02:05) End-of-season table review

(00:19:25) Reflecting on our start-of-season predictions

(00:25:44) How did our 'Players to Watch' do?

(00:41:50) End-of-season awards: Best XI, MVP, U21 MVP, Biggest Flop and Biggest surprise!

(00:51:23) What we expect of next season and will Grobina survive?

(00:56:36) Some news

MANSCAPED.COM know that our listeners are some of the most attractive human beings out there and they want to do their bit to help others see it too! To this end, they have just released a brand new foil shaver and stubble trimmer - the Chairman Pro (what a name!) and are willing to give you 20% off on your order with manscaped.com + free shipping when you use promo code LFP20. Help the podcast and help yourself to look neat and fresh with their genuinely very impressive range of products. Franks likes the shaver and Dmitrijs is really impressed with the boxers and the care products!

Also, we highly recommend the Bradt Travel Guide to Latvia by Paul Brummel! It is a legitimately excellent guide (even approved by Dmitrijs, wow!) that will make your visit to Latvia much, much more special and enjoyable! Bradt offer our listeners a sweet deal with a LATVIA30 promo code!