- The Amazing Race Season 39 cast features 13 new teams of everyday racers, no returning reality stars.
- Biggest twist: Every team starts with an Express Pass in a first for the US version.
- History maker: Doug, 73, is the oldest racer ever, paired with grandson Dylan, 19.
- Route: 25,000+ miles, 13 cities, 9 countries, 5 continents, starting in Vancouver.
- Premiere: Two-night event on September 30 and October 1 on CBS.
Season 39 Cast Overview
The Amazing Race Season 39 marks a deliberate return to the show's classic casting formula: 13 teams of regular people rather than reality TV alumni. Announced on August 12, the cast skews heavily toward family bonds, with seven of the thirteen teams related by blood: parent-child pairs, siblings, and for the first time in years, a grandparent-grandchild duo.
Video Highlights:
- Full breakdown of all 13 Season 39 teams
- The "everyone gets an Express Pass" twist explained
- Confirmed destinations: Vancouver, Morocco, Laos, Albania
- Analysis of the cast's athletes and notable names
Seven of thirteen teams are family pairs. Expect deeper pre-existing chemistry and friction than typical dating-couple seasons, a dynamic producers have historically favored for storytelling.
All 13 Teams at a Glance
| Team | Relationship | Ages | Occupations | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali & Joanna | Former pro soccer players | 42 / 44 | Retired athletes, authors | Montclair, NJ / Silver Spring, MD |
| Anne Marie & Riley | Mother-daughter | 56 / 29 | Healthcare exec / Marine officer | Carmel, IN / San Diego, CA |
| Anwar & Andrea | Father-daughter | 58 / 25 | Developer / Med student | Houston, TX |
| Cody & Jamie | Siblings | 35 / 33 | Civil engineer / Dietitian | Los Angeles, CA / Tinley Park, IL |
| Connor & Garrett | Childhood friends | 27 / 27 | Media producer / Engineer | Loomis / Rocklin, CA |
| Defina & Saran | Sisters | 52 / -- | Bond analyst-DJ / Personal trainer | Chicago, IL |
| Daysha & Dalton | Dating couple | 28 / 27 | Videographers | Flat Rock / Jacksonville, AL |
| Doug & Dylan | Grandfather-grandson | 73 / 19 | Retired fire chief / College student | San Diego, CA |
| Aaron & Herbie | Married couple | 28 / 30 | HR head / Pilot | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Jody & Jen | Best friends, moms | 44 / 44 | History teacher / Forensic scientist | Branford, CT / Larchmont, NY |
| Katie & Charlotte | Sisters | 26 / 20 | Aestheticians | Murray, KY |
| Michelle & Matthew | Married parents | 31 / 36 | Auto shop owner-realtor / Ops director | Rutherford, NJ |
| Zach & Nate | Brothers | 30 / 27 | Car salesman-co-founder / Sales director | Dallas, TX |
Notable Racers and Storylines
While Season 39 avoids casting reality TV returnees, several racers arrive with public profiles that shape pre-season expectations.
Ali & Joanna
- Two-time World Cup winner (Ali Krieger)
- Joanna played for Washington Spirit through 2018
- Both former teammates, strong travel experience
- Early favorites among fans
Riley
- Olympic bobsledder for Team USA
- Standout college softball athlete
- Marine officer, arguably the cast's best athlete
Doug & Dylan
- Oldest racer ever at 73
- 54-year age gap, largest in show history
- Third grandparent-grandchild team ever
Ali Krieger's backstory adds emotional weight: she survived blood clots in her lungs in college that caused multiple small heart attacks, then recovered to build a World Cup-winning career. Defina's double life as a bond analyst and DJ, and Saran's past coaching role on MTV's "I Used to Be Fat," round out a cast that is less anonymous than CBS's "regular people" framing suggests.
Grandparent-grandchild teams have historically performed well relative to expectations. Nicholas and Donald reached the Season 12 finale, giving this pairing a strong track record despite the age gap.
The Express Pass Twist Explained
The headline format change for Season 39: all 13 teams begin the race with an Express Pass, a one-time "skip any task" card. Traditionally, Express Passes were scarce, with only one to three available per season, making them prized drama engines.
Everyone Starts Armed
Each of the 13 teams receives an Express Pass at the starting line in Vancouver, transforming it from scarce advantage to universal trump card.
One Pass Per Task
Following the model pioneered on Amazing Race Canada, only one pass can be burned per task, preventing mass skips and forcing timing decisions.
Strategic Timing
Teams must choose between burning passes early to win legs or holding them for survival moments when trailing the pack.
Cascading Effects
When one team plays its pass, trailing teams face pressure to respond, potentially triggering chain reactions across an entire leg.
Expiration
On Amazing Race Canada, passes expired after leg five; only one team held one that long. A similar sunset rule is expected here.
A team can still be eliminated holding an unused pass, especially if the one-pass-per-task rule blocks them at the wrong moment. Expect at least one pocketed-pass exit.
Route and Destinations
Season 39 travels more than 25,000 miles through 13 cities across 9 countries and 5 continents. CBS confirmed three stops before premiere, including a first-ever US-version visit.
| Destination | Country | Confirmed Activity | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, BC | Canada | 200-ft jump off BC Place catwalk | First Canadian start line |
| Morocco | Africa | Walking with camels | African leg confirmed |
| Laos | Southeast Asia | Paramotor flight | Rarely visited, second-ever visit |
| Albania | Balkans | TBD | First visit in show history |
The five-continent count implies stops in Africa or Australia, the latter unvisited since Season 18's Unfinished Business, when Mike White last raced. Host Phil Keoghan has also teased "the return of some tried-and-tested classics," fueling speculation about U-Turns, Head-to-Heads, or the Scramble returning from Season 37.
Pre-Season Viewing Checklist
Before the Two-Night Premiere:
- Memorize all 13 team names and colors
- Watch the Season 39 cast reveal breakdown
- Review Express Pass rules from Amazing Race Canada
- Note the premiere schedule: Sept 30 and Oct 1
- Track predictions for family-team performance
The two-night premiere airs Wednesday, September 30 after Survivor, and Thursday, October 1 after the Big Brother finale, both 90-minute episodes on CBS.
FAQ
Q: How many teams are in The Amazing Race Season 39 cast?
Season 39 features 13 new teams of two, continuing the larger-cast formula. Seven of the teams are family pairs, including siblings, parent-child duos, and one grandfather-grandson team.
Q: Who is the most famous racer in Season 39?
Ali Krieger, a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner and Olympic athlete, is the most recognized name. She races alongside former pro soccer teammate Joanna Lohman. Olympic bobsledder Riley is another standout athlete.
Q: What is the Express Pass twist in Season 39?
Every team starts the race with an Express Pass, allowing them to skip any task once. Modeled on a twist from Amazing Race Canada, it is expected to limit one pass per task and expire mid-race, creating heavy strategic decisions.
Q: Where does Season 39 travel?
The race covers 25,000+ miles across 13 cities in 9 countries on 5 continents. Confirmed stops include Vancouver (start line), Morocco, Laos, and Albania, the latter a first-ever visit for the US version.