Brazil ’94 remembered as football fever hits TV

If you’re not a fan of soccer, you might want to find an outdoor hobby in the weeks ahead.

The World Cup starts on June 11 with a feast of fixtures ahead, and the TV networks are hoping to cash in on football fever.

At least in USA 94: Brazil’s Return To Glory, which lands on Netflix on Sunday, we can recall a World Cup that also included Ireland.

This feature-length production takes viewers back to the previous time America hosted the World Cup, charting how Brazil overcame numerous odds – including a difficult qualifying campaign – to be crowned champions for the fourth time.

Featuring footage shot by some of the players themselves, it includes interviews with the main protagonists for the successful Brazil team in 1994, including Dunga, Romário, and Bebeto.

The action revolves around more recent decades in Rivals: Messi v Ronaldo on BBC1 on Thursday, a documentary examining the careers of the captains of the Argentine and Portuguese national teams, who stoked a fierce rivalry while playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

This will likely be the final World Cup for both men, widely regarded as the finest players of their generation. Messi has won the coveted Golden Ball twice. Will third time be a charm?

Our friends across the Irish Sea are celebrating their inclusion in the 2026 World Cup with a slew of programmes.

The pick of them is Kevin Bridges: In Search Of The Beautiful Game on BBC1 on Sunday at 10.30pm.

The Scottish comedian was 11 the last time his country qualified for a World Cup, and he examines how the game has changed, talking to fans and players along the way.

Gareth Southgate: Changing The Game For Young Men on BBC1 on Monday at 9pm sees the ex-England boss confront some of the problems facing a generation of boys.

England 2006: The Golden Generation on BBC1 at 10.40pm on Tuesday reflects on the World Cup 20 years ago.