Former defender has named three teams who he expects to stand out at the 2022 in .
The World Cup gets started on November 20 as hosts Qatar face Ecuador, with England’s first match the following day against Iran.
But Ferdinand, who knocked up 81 caps for the Three Lions, did not name Gareth Southgate’s side as one of his three stand-out teams.
One team Ferdinand does expect to stand out is world champions France, who lifted the last World Cup back in 2018.
France have some huge name players in their squad and are packed with talent as Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus look to defend their crown.
Ferdinand has also picked two South American sides as his second and third stand-out teams.
‘I worry about [England] defensively, the injuries and players not playing enough for their clubs,’ Ferdinand said.
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‘It’s going to be difficult. France, Brazil and Argentina are the stand-out teams, the depth of their squads, especially the French and Brazilian, is crazy.
‘I don’t think we have that. We’ve got to have the perfect run physically [no injuries] to get anywhere near it.’
France are in Group D along with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia as they look to bounce back from a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign which saw them crash out in the last 16 to Switzerland.
Five-time world champions Brazil have been placed in Group G with Serbia, Cameroon and Switzerland.
Argentina are in Group C as Lionel Messi et al prepare for games against Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
Meanwhile, in Qatar.
‘I honestly think it probably will happen again [players will be overtly racially abused],’ Ferdinand added.
‘It’s unfair. And I don’t think it’s just English players [who will be overtly abused]. I think it’s players of colour from all over the world who will be thinking this.
‘For a player to be getting on the pitch and thinking, ‘If I make a mistake, I could be racially abused’, that’s real.
‘And in today’s day and age, should that be the case? It shouldn’t be.’
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