Spotify data shows football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly turning to podcasts for match analysis, commentary and fan-led discussion, with a sharp increase in listening across the region due to the 2026 Word Cup.
Average daily streams of football-related podcasts rose significantly between June 1 and June 20 compared with the January–May period, according to Spotify. The gains cut across Southern, East, West and Central Africa, underscoring how long-form audio is becoming a key companion to live matches and short-form social media content.
Smaller markets are driving much of the acceleration. Eswatini recorded the fastest growth, with football podcast streams jumping 160.2% over the earlier five-month average. Angola followed at 144.7%, while Madagascar and Mozambique posted increases of 137.2% and 136.0%, respectively.
West African markets also featured prominently, with Togo up 121.0% and Benin rising 120.0%. Cabo Verde (+113.6%), Côte d’Ivoire (+110.4%) and Guinea (+94.3%) all recorded strong gains. In East and Central Africa, Rwanda (+98.0%), Cameroon (+86.8%) and Burundi (+82.9%) continued to expand steadily.
South Africa, the region’s most mature streaming market, posted an 80.3% increase, suggesting the trend is being driven not only by new listeners but also by deeper engagement among existing users.
The surge highlights a broader shift in how football audiences in Africa consume content. As smartphone penetration rises and creator ecosystems expand, podcasts are offering localized perspectives, in-depth storytelling and community-driven conversations that traditional formats often lack.
The data is based on Spotify podcast listening between June 1 and June 21, 2026, comparing average daily football-related podcast streams from June 1–20 with the January–May average.