Only a game? The politics of football, the English Premier League, and its wider international relations: A critical research agenda for the next 25 years.

This article examines the political economy and international relations of the English Premier League (EPL) over the past 25 years, highlighting its global economic growth, transnational ownership, and cultural significance. It argues that despite football's widespread popularity and influence, it remains marginal in political science, international relations (IR), and international political economy (IPE) scholarship, and calls for a critical research agenda to address this gap. Key issues identified include the EPL's role in global capitalism, inequalities within English football, the politics of governance and regulation, the impact of globalization on player migration, and the intersections of football with environmental politics, gambling, and identity politics. The article emphasizes football's embeddedness in everyday political practices and international diplomacy, urging scholars to apply political and IR frameworks to better understand the power relations shaping the sport's future.