World Cup Stars Race
The Amazing Race Season 39 Unveils Star-Studded Cast Including World Cup Champions
Key Points
Season 39 features a grandfather-grandson duo among its racers.
There are 13 Express Passes in play this season, and each team must use one by the end of leg six.
The two-night premiere runs Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET, with the show returning to a regular Wednesday slot starting Oct. 7.
Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman are teaming up as contestants; Krieger is a two-time World Cup champion and Lohman is a former USWNT star.
Beyond the athletes, the cast includes multiple family pairings: a mother-daughter duo (Ann-Marie and Riley Tejcek), a father-daughter duo (Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager Ballesca), siblings (Cody Langlois and Jaime Tribo), and childhood friends (Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire).
CBS has revealed the full cast for Season 39 of The Amazing Race, with a two-night premiere set for September 30 and October 1, 2026, at 9:30 p.m. ET, according to Just Jared. Host Phil Keoghan will kick things off in Vancouver, Canada, as 13 teams chase a $1 million prize across five continents, nine countries, and more than 25,000 miles.
The season brings a big new twist: 13 Express Passes are in play, and every team must use one by the end of leg six, E! Online reports. The show returns to its regular Wednesday slot on October 7.
Soccer Stars Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman Join the Race
The biggest names in the cast are Ali Krieger and Joanna Lohman, two former U.S. Women's National Team stars. Krieger is a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, according to E! Online. Lohman is a former USWNT standout and professional soccer player.
Their pairing is one of the most high-profile in recent Amazing Race history. Both women bring athletic discipline and competitive experience to the race, Showbiz Junkies noted. Fans of women's soccer will recognize both names instantly.
Family Ties and Unlikely Duos Fill Out the Cast
Beyond the soccer stars, the cast is packed with family pairings. Mother and daughter Ann-Marie and Riley Tejcek are competing, as are father and daughter Anuar Tager and Andrea Tager Ballesca, according to Head Topics. Siblings Cody Langlois and Jaime Tribo also make up one team.
One of the most heartwarming duos is a grandfather-grandson pair. Childhood friends Conner Wilson and Garrett McGuire round out the mix. The cast also includes a forensic scientist, per Showbiz Junkies, adding to an already diverse group of competitors.
13 Express Passes Create a Brand-New Strategic Wrinkle
The Express Pass twist is the biggest format change this season. In past seasons, only one or two Express Passes existed. Now, every team gets one, but they must use it before leg six ends, Just Jared reported. That forces teams to make tough calls early in the race.
An Express Pass lets a team skip any task entirely. With all 13 teams holding one, the early legs will be full of strategy decisions. No one can sit on theirs for long. Host Phil Keoghan said the season blends "fresh twists" with the classic racing that tests both strategy and character.
Camels, Paramotors, and a 200-Foot Stadium Drop Await
The route covers five continents and 13 cities, with Albania appearing for the first time in the show's history, according to Yahoo News. Racers will trek by camel in Morocco and fly by paramotor in Laos. The season opener in Vancouver includes a 200-foot jump off BC Stadium's catwalk.
The global scale of the race — more than 25,000 miles — is on par with the show's biggest seasons. Nine countries are on the itinerary, spanning deserts, jungles, and cities. With big personalities, athletic duos, and a new twist shaking up strategy, Season 39 looks like one of the boldest yet.
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