Dedicated tournament series featured interviews with Kaká, Clarence Seedorf and Thierry Henry

Rio Ferdinand Presents Thierry Henry YouTube

Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former England international’s YouTube channel, hit over 400 million views during the 2026 World Cup.

Ferdinand released 30 original episodes during the tournament, which ran from 8 June-20 July. These included Rio Reacts episodes covering the tournament’s major matches and defining moments, alongside eight World Cup editions of Rio Meets featuring in-depth conversations with legends of the game, including Kaká, Clarence Seedorf and Thierry Henry. Regular contributors Joel Beya, Stephen Howson and Joleon Lescott also joined Ferdinand throughout the series to provide analysis and debate.

55% of the YouTube audience reached during the World Cup was aged between 18 and 35, and the tournament also helped to grow Ferdinand’s channels on other platforms. By 4 July, Rio Ferdinand Presents had increased its following on X by 40.8%, 111.4% on Instagram, 177% on Facebook, 180.1% on TikTok and 181.8% on Threads, taking the platform’s combined social following from approximately 1.2 million to more than three million. 

One of the top performing videos was a short-form clip featuring Ferdinand appearing to trick an Argentina supporter into offering him a high-five, which generated almost 28 million views. 

The World Cup series was backed by Airbnb, and the pair worked together over 12 months. Dedicated content was filmed at Airbnb properties across Los Angeles to bring the brand into the channel. 

Ferdinand and his management team at NEI are aiming to move away from traditional broadcasting and into building an independent, owned media platform. 

Ferdinand said: “Rio Ferdinand Presents continues to go from strength to strength, and the response to our World Cup content has been incredible.

“We are always looking at new and improved ways to speak directly to our audience and deliver football in the way they want to consume it. That means being prepared to approach major sporting moments differently, quickly and authentically.

“Reaching 400 million views demonstrates the strength of the platform we have built and the connection we have with football supporters around the world. This is still only the beginning. We are now looking at how we invest in the platform, expand what we produce and build something that represents the future of sports media.”