Melina KhanUSA TODAY
Sept. 29, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET
For most of the contestants on “The Amazing Race” Season 39, winning competitions across continents will be a daunting new challenge. But not for Ali Krieger.
The retired professional soccer player, who won two World Cup titles as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, will take on the task as a contestant on the reality show’s upcoming season – this time competing for cash instead of gold.
She’ll be competing with Joanna Lohman, a fellow retired soccer athlete who played for the U.S. Women’s National Team in the early 2000s and later several teams in the National Women’s Soccer League.
They are one of 13 pairs set to compete on the new season of “The Amazing Race,” which will air over two nights on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 1.
The race will kick off from Vancouver, Canada, where host Phil Keoghan will reveal the first twist of the season: each team will receive an express pass to use by the end of leg six. The racers will then travel across five continents, nine countries and 13 cities in pursuit of the $1 million cash prize.
Here’s what to know about “The Amazing Race” Season 39.
When does ‘The Amazing Race’ new season come out?
“The Amazing Race” Season 39 will kick off with a two-night premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 1.
The episodes will air from 9:30-11 p.m. ET/PT on both nights.
After the premiere week, the show will continue in its regular slot on Wednesday nights from 9:30-11 p.m. ET/PT.
How to watch ‘The Amazing Race’ Season 39
“The Amazing Race” airs on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Paramount+ has two subscription plans, including ad-supported and ad-free tiers.
The Essential plan is ad-supported and costs $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. The Premium plan is ad-free and costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year.
‘The Amazing Race’ Season 39 cast
The cast of “The Amazing Race” Season 39 includes family members, couples and friend duos. See the full cast:
- Ali Krieger (42, pro athlete) and Joanna Lohman (44, pro athlete)
- Friends from Montclair, New Jersey, and Silver Spring, Maryland
- Ann-Marie Tejcek (56, healthcare executive) and Riley Tejcek (29, marine officer)
- Mother and daughter from Carmel, Indiana, and San Diego, California
- Anuar Tager (58, developer) and Andrea Tager Ballesca (25, medical student)
- Father and daughter from Houston, Texas
- Cody Langlois (35, civil engineer) and Jaime Tribo (33, dietitian)
- Siblings from Los Angeles, California, and Tinley Park, Illinois
- Conner Wilson (27, media producer) and Garrett McGuire (27, engineer)
- Friends from Loomis, California, and Rocklin, California
- Dafina (52, bond analyst and DJ) and Saran (51, personal trainer/founder of Kids Leading Kids) Dunmore
- Sisters from Chicago, Illinois
- Daisha Wilks (28, videographer) and Dalton Hamby (27, videographer)
- Couple from Flat Rock, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Alabama
- Doug (73, retired fire chief) and Dylan (19, college student) Matter
- Grandfather and grandson from San Diego, California
- Erin Taylor (28, head of human resources) and Javi Vintimilla (30, pilot)
- Couple from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Jody Rebhun (44, history teacher) and Jenn Naso (44, forensic scientist)
- Friends from Branford, Connecticut, and Larchmont, New York
- Katie (26, esthetician) and Charlotte (20, esthetician) Schultz
- Sisters from Murray, Kentucky
- Michelle (31, auto body shop owner and real estate agent) and Matthew (36, business operations director) Patterson
- Couple from Rutherford, New Jersey
- Zach (30, car salesman and co-founder of Pipley) and Nate (27, director of sales) Johnson
- Brothers from Dallas, Texas
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
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