It’s almost kick off time! RTÉ KIDS show Total Football returns for a second season with a brand new co-host
Irish YouTube star DavidMC joins Aisling O’Reilly to tackle all things soccer in the new season starting June 9 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Total Football is back! Viewers will get a VIP pass into the beautiful game through the 8-part football series that will air as part of RTÉ’s FIFA World Cup coverage. Football fans can watch the first episode of season 2 on Tuesday 9 June at 5:30pm on RTÉ2 and all episodes will be available to stream on RTÉ Player from Tuesday 9 June.
Returning to the show is award-winning broadcaster Aisling O’Reilly who will be joined by a new co-host, Irish YouTube star DavidMC, with over 3 million subscribers he is one of the platform’s fastest growing football creators.
The co-hosts will interview, set challenges and meet stars of the football world including Shamrock Rovers captain and Cape Verde World Cup hopeful Roberto “Pico” Lopes. They catch up with top Irish striker Troy Parrott as well as Brentford’s boys in green, Nathan Collins and Caoimhín Kelleher. Aisling and DavidMC go behind the scenes with Republic of Ireland WNT stars Denise O’Sullivan at Liverpool and Megan Connolly at Lazio. Some well known content creators stop by for some fun and FAI coaches Heather and Cameron are back with Total Skills, which viewers can try out at home. Along with a team of young reporters, Aisling and DavidMC bring audiences closer to the action, the players, and the stories behind the sport.
In the first episode Shamrock Rovers captain Roberto “Pico” Lopes appears as a special guest ahead of his FIFA World Cup appearance with Cape Verde. Total Football meets the fresh young talent from Transport Iveagh Trust F.C., DavidMC debunks goalkeeper hacks and star reporter Luke visits the Men’s National Team’s training camp.
WATCH: DavidMC takes a tour of the UEFA headquarters in Switzerland in this sneak peek of Total Football S2
Suzanne Kelly, RTÉ Group Head of Children’s and Young Peoples said: “Total Football is back on RTÉ KIDS — and what a time to return. 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. From international football to the League of Ireland, we’re celebrating every side of the sport and inspiring the next generation of fans. Whether you’re football-mad or just discovering the game, our topflight presenting team, Aisling O’Reilly and DavidMC and the rest of the Total Football team are ready to take you behind the scenes and into the heart of the action.”
Total Football co-host Aisling O’Reilly said: “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. I hope the kids enjoy it! We’ve a new studio, new challenges, new faces and of course a new co-presenter DavidMC who is a well known YouTuber, so that was very exciting for the kids. We have a lot of fun in studio, and we involve everyone because sport is for everybody. And that’s exactly what we show in Total Football. There’s something for everybody, it’s not just about on the pitch, it’s about off the pitch too, and all the different roles, jobs and opportunities that you can have within sport.”
FAI Director of Football John Martin said: “It is fantastic to have Total Football back for a second season, just in time for a busy summer period where children all around the country will hopefully be out playing football. Total Football is a brilliant way to engage with younger viewers and give them real insights to football at all levels, from grassroots to League of Ireland and through to our Ireland Men’s & Women’s Teams. Hopefully the eight new episodes will help to encourage even more children to get involved in football.”
Tune in to Total Football on Tuesday June 9 on RTÉ2 at 5:30pm and stream the full series on RTÉ Player from Tuesday June 9.
ENDS
Jade Carpenter, RTÉ Communications Lead