If your football-mad kids have been asking when Total Football is back, now you get to be the hero parent with the answer.
The popular RTÉ Kids series returned for its second season on Tuesday (RTÉ2 at 5:30pm)— and the full eight-part series is available to stream right now on RTÉ Player. So yes, that's one very easy answer to "what can I watch?" sorted for the evening.
A new co-host and a whole lot of football
Returning presenter Aisling O'Reilly — the award-winning broadcaster who's covered everything from the Rugby World Cup to Katie Taylor bouts — is back fronting the show, and this time she's joined by a new co-host. DavidMC, an Irish YouTube creator with over three million subscribers, brings serious football-creator energy to the presenting desk. If your kids are already fans of his channel, they'll be delighted.
Together the pair interview players, set challenges and go behind the scenes with some big names from the football world. We're talking Troy Parrott, Nathan Collins, Caoimhín Kelleher, and Republic of Ireland Women's National Team stars Denise O'Sullivan at Liverpool and Megan Connolly at Lazio. There are content creator cameos too, plus FAI coaches Heather and Cameron returning with the ever-popular Total Skills segments — which kids can actually try at home. Ideal for the garden this summer.
Aisling O'Reilly said of the new season: "I'm so excited for season 2 of Total Football, we are back! The first season was such a joy to be a part of and to see the impact that it had on young people. When I was out presenting on games, I would have kids running up to me asking 'When is Total Football coming back?' — so to know that we are back now is amazing."
The first episode features a World Cup star
The season kicks off in style. Episode one features Roberto "Pico" Lopes, the Shamrock Rovers captain who'll be heading to the FIFA World Cup with Cape Verde. Total Football also meets young talent from Transport Iveagh Trust F.C., DavidMC takes on goalkeeper myth-busting, and star reporter Luke visits the Men's National Team's training camp. It's packed.
The timing couldn't be better either. The series is airing as part of RTÉ's wider FIFA World Cup coverage, which means the football conversation is going to be very much alive in Irish households for the weeks ahead. Suzanne Kelly, RTÉ Group Head of Children's and Young People's, put it well: "As excitement builds towards the 2026 World Cup, we're bringing young viewers closer to the game they love with bigger stories, more access and more fun than ever before."
Worth knowing for parents
FAI Director of Football John Martin welcomed the return too, noting that the show offers "real insights to football at all levels, from grassroots to League of Ireland and through to our Ireland Men's and Women's Teams." That's actually one of the things that makes Total Football a genuinely good watch rather than just a filler programme — it covers the full picture of the sport, not just the Premier League highlights your kids are already getting elsewhere.
It's also reassuringly not just about what happens on the pitch. Aisling is clear that the show highlights all the different roles, jobs and opportunities that exist within sport — which is a lovely thing for kids to see, especially those who love football but might not see themselves as future players.
Total Football Season 2 airs in Tuesdays on RTÉ2 at 5:30pm and is available to stream in full on RTÉ Player now.
