Former England and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand expressed his desire to see a match between his national team and Saudi Arabia during the 2026 World Cup finals, which are scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Ferdinand said in his statements on "Thamaniya" channel: "I want to see a match between England and Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup. What a matchup that would be... It would be incredible."

The former English defender confirmed that the Saudi national team has proven its ability to compete with the top teams, citing their historic victory over Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. He added, "You must remember that the Saudi team defeated Argentina, the world champion... It’s truly an amazing achievement."

Ferdinand also praised the sports boom taking place in the Kingdom, saying: "The investment Saudi Arabia has made in football sends a positive message to the world that things are moving in the right direction."