Ferdinand has not played for his country since June 2011 and has been at the centre of the much-publicised racism saga involving brother Anton and long-time defensive partner John Terry.
With Terry now retired from England duty, Ferdinand this week declared his willingness to return to the Three Lions fold should Hodgson believe it was necessary.
Even in Wednesday night's win over Brazil, it appeared the 34-year-old could do a job considering Cahill gifted possession to the South Americans for their equaliser, messing up the kind of forward dribble which has been a Ferdinand trademark throughout his illustrious career.
But it is clear Hodgson is not interested.
He famously told fellow passengers on the Tube that he had moved on from the Manchester United star.
And quizzed about the comparisons between Ferdinand and former team-mate Frank Lampard, five months his senior, following the Wembley win, Hodgson reacted with a rare degree of anger.
"I am not going to talk about Rio," he said. "It seems to me all I ever do is answer questions about Rio.
"We have just beaten Brazil for the first time in God knows how many years.
"It is my first game against Brazil. We have had six players 22 and under on the field.
"I am not prepared, every time we play a game, to keep revisiting something which I have revisited at every single press conference for the last 10 months."
When the glowing manner in which he spoke of Lampard in comparison to Ferdinand was pointed out as the reason behind repeated questioning over the former Leeds skipper, Hodgson merely shrugged: "Possibly. But you have my answer."
With his hackles raised, Hodgson then launched a passionate defence of last night's central defensive combination, Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling, when he had only been asked about the qualities required in a modern-day defender.
"You are being unfair to the two of them to suggest they can't (bring the ball out of defence)," he said.
"Smalling can do that. He is not lacking in ability on the ball. Neither is Gary Cahill."
Yet Smalling, the man Hodgson snapped up from Maidstone when he was Fulham manager, is consistently behind Ferdinand in the United pecking order.
"I don't know how many more times I have to say it. I don't want to talk about it," said Hodgson.
"You can write what you want to write.
"We have beaten Brazil. I am not prepared to constantly talk about people who aren't here and weren't selected in the first place."
That Ferdinand nurses his way through the season in order to maintain full fitness is one possible reason for his absence.
The sight of Cahill with his head in his hands after last night's blunder just highlighted the problems England have in defence and Hodgson's back-up, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka, both lack Ferdinand's experience.
Certainly the difference in attitude to Lampard is marked.
The Chelsea man scored a brilliant winner last night, further undermining Roman Abramovich's refusal to offer the midfielder a new contract.
Hodgson is concerned enough about the situation to have held talks with Lampard about his future, warning the midfielder he risks his entire international career if he follows David Beckham's example and takes up a lucrative offer from Major League Soccer.
And clearly Hodgson still has a place for Lampard in his World Cup plans even though he will be 36 when the tournament takes place next year.
"Georges Bregy was 36 when I took him to the World Cup with Switzerland in 1994 Arrigo Sacchi thought he was arguably the best midfielder in the group phase," said Hodgson.
"Frank is a player whose mobility and athleticism is as strong today as it was when I first saw him at West Ham all those years ago.
"I am not really fearful of that. It is a difficult situation for him because he is not sure what his future is.
"It is not for me to comment on what goes on between him and his club.
"But I have spoken to him and the one thing about Frank is that he is very anxious to keep competing for a place in the England team.
"Chelsea could change their mind but I hope if it is not Chelsea, I am rather hoping it will still be in England or Europe because that makes it a bit easier for us to keep picking him."
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