Behind the scenes with Rio Ferdinand’s Podcast during the FIFA World Cup™

With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ less than two months away, Airbnb and Rio Ferdinand are launching "The Ultimate Quarter-Final Getaway" in Los Angeles. The three night experience will see fans go behind-the-scenes at a recording of Rio's podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, attend a FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final match, and enjoy a curated experience celebrating LA and football culture.

For the first time in 30 years, Rio will experience the tournament as a fan, soaking up the atmosphere from his own Los Angeles Airbnb listing. And he's not the only Brit traveling for the tournament.

• Searches among UK travelers for Airbnb stays in host cities are up by 301 percent over the tournament window, compared to the same period last year.¹
• UK guests are the most committed football fans internationally-driving the most searches around match dates-compared to other countries in Europe.²

To bring fans closer to the action, fans who book "The Ultimate Quarter-Final Getaway"will stay in their own private Airbnb in the heart of Los Angeles for their football experience. From a private chef service to Airbnb experiences, they will uncover under-the-radar foodie spots, see the sights around LA, and dine with VIP treatment. The headline act of the trip is attending a live recording of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, where guests will go behind-the-scenes with Rio and his co-hosts, Joel Beya and Ste Howson, and a special podcast guest. To top it all off, the football getaway includes tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ quarter-final match in LA.

"Football has been my life, and there's no bigger stage than the FIFA World Cup", said Rio Ferdinand, former England Captain. "This summer's a big one with Airbnb. We're all about bringing fans closer than ever, proper access, big moments, straight from the US. And for me, it's something new-I'll be experiencing a World Cup as a fan for the first time in over 30 years. I can't wait to get started."

How to Request to Book

Football fans can request to book "The Ultimate Quarter Final Getaway" from 12 May at 10am BST at airbnb.com/rioferdinand (including the full Terms and Conditions) and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Four spots are available for a four-day trip (July 8-11, 2026), each bookable for one guest and a plus one. There is no cost to submit a request. Guests must be 18+. Geographic and other eligibility restrictions may apply. For full terms, eligibility criteria and details on how participants will be selected and how personal data may be used, visit airbnb.com/rules. Participation is subject to acceptance of the Official Rules and signing a liability/publicity release.*

Airbnb Experiences

Airbnb Experiences are hosted by locals who know their city best. We've launched experiences in 650 cities around the world and are adding more every day. In many cities, you'll also find Airbnb Originals, in addition to the Star in Short n' Sweet TV with Sabrina Carpenter Experience-extraordinary experiences hosted by the world's most interesting people, designed exclusively for Airbnb.

With both the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and Airbnb bringing the world together, Airbnb is a proud partner of FIFA, offering fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences during tournaments-while welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests and driving meaningful economic impact for local communities and host cities.