RTÉ brings Irish audiences every moment of the biggest FIFA World Cup in history

RTÉ confirms multi-channel and free‑to‑air coverage of the expanded tournament with enhanced digital features and the return of Total Football for young fans

Stream all 104 games live on RTÉ Player

Listen to Inside Sport FIFA World Cup Special which will air tonight at 6pm on RTÉ Radio 1

RTÉ today unveiled its extensive, free-to-air FIFA World Cup coverage, confirming that Irish audiences will be able to enjoy every moment of the action from host nations USA, Canada and Mexico. The 2026 FIFA World Cup brings the biggest tournament in the competition’s history as it expands to an unprecedented 104 games, 48 competing nations and for the first time, three host nations. As official Irish broadcaster, RTÉ will be there every kick of the way!

Inside Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 today launches RTÉ’s FIFA World Cup offering, showcasing its most extensive coverage yet across TV, radio and digital platforms. With Ray Houghton, Áine O’Gorman, Darragh Maloney, Alan Cawley, and Paul Corry  joining the discussion, the programme which will air tonight on RTÉ Radio 1 at 6pm offers an early look at the tournament through different lenses from tactics and teams to watch, to best kits!  

RTÉ will deliver multi-channel, free to air coverage with full games, highlights and top-tier commentary available on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player, RTÉ News, RTÉ Online, RTÉ Radio 1 and on social channels across a packed summer of sport. Viewers can expect a distinctly Irish lens on the world’s biggest sporting stage, with familiar faces, trusted voices and expert analysis from start to finish.

Group Head of RTE Sport, Declan McBennett, said: “This World Cup is unlike anything we’ve seen before, not just in its size but in the way fans will experience it. With matches taking place across three host nations and a record number of teams involved, supporters will be following stories unfolding in multiple time zones and at an incredible pace. That’s why our multi‑channel approach is so important. Whether it’s live on RTÉ2, streaming on RTÉ Player, catching up on RTÉ News or following the conversation across our digital platforms, we’re making sure audiences can stay connected to the tournament in whatever way suits them.”

RTÉ’s television coverage will be led by a team of six presenters with Joanne Cantwell, Peter Collins, Marie Crowe, Jacqui Hurley, Clare MacNamara, Tony O’Donoghue all taking their turns in the presenter’s chair. They will be joined by a host of expert pundits and commentators including Shay Given, Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton, James McClean, Dietmar Hamann, Áine O’Gorman, Kenny Cunningham, Stephen Kelly, Keith Treacy, Richie Sadlier, Alan Cawley, Kevin Doyle, Niamh Fahey, Des Curran, Darragh Maloney, Adrian Eames, John Kenny and Cathal Mullaney.

RTÉ Player will bring fans every moment of the FIFA World Cup, streaming all 104 games live and bringing Irish audiences closer to the action than ever before. With matches taking place across multiple time zones, RTÉ Player will give viewers the opportunity to watch the tournament with complete flexibility offering highlights, match clips and a dedicated FIFA World Cup Collection page that keeps supporters up to date round the clock. A FIFA World Cup pop‑up channel will be available throughout the competition, offering a continuous stream of content to keep fans immersed in the action, whenever they choose to watch. RTÉ Cork will bring their distinctive take on the tournament to football fans which will be available on this channel.

On RTÉ Radio 1, Marie Crowe and Jacqui Hurley will continue to bring you all the action from North America on Inside Sport with daily updates throughout the programme.  Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport will also carry analysis and news from the tournament.

RTÉ Sport online will have a live blog and report of every game, with goals and major incidents also shared on social channels. Not able to stay up to watch the overnight action? Not a problem! With highlights of every game on the RTÉ website and RTÉ Sport YouTube page, you won’t miss a thing. Raf Diallo will host additional episodes of the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, where he will be joined by RTÉ commentators and co-commentators in North America, as well as expert TV pundits.

RTÉ KIDS has once again partnered with the FAI for Total Football season two, which will air as part of RTÉ’s FIFA World Cup coverage. Kicking off on Tuesday 9 June at 5.30pm on RTÉ2 and dropping the full series on RTÉ Player on the same day, Total Football offers young viewers an engaging look at every corner of the sport, featuring insights from top players, including Irish Cape Verde World Cup hopeful Roberto “Pico” Lopes, Troy Parrott and Denise O’Sullivan, as well as coaches and leading content creators. Returning as host is award‑winning broadcaster Aisling O’Reilly, joined this year by Irish YouTube star DavidMC, who makes his television presenting debut. Together with a team of young reporters, they’ll set challenges for celebrity guests and influencers and bring audiences closer to the action, the players and the stories that make football so compelling.

Heineken 0.0 is the broadcast sponsor of their FIFA World Cup 2026 on RTÉ.