On July 12, following England’s victory over Norway in the quarterfinals of the 2026 North American World Cup, Norwegian Air, Norway’s flagship carrier, made a surprising move. The airline changed its social media profile picture to the logo of British Airways, their UK counterpart.
The playful saga began when Norwegian Air threw down the gauntlet on Instagram before the crucial match. They proposed a daring bet: the losing country’s airline would display the victor’s logo on their social media accounts for 24 hours. It was a bold move that caught the attention of soccer fans and aviation enthusiasts alike.
As England clinched a thrilling 2-1 comeback win, Norwegian Air wasted no time in honoring their wager. They swiftly updated their social media presence with the British Airways logo, much to the delight of onlookers.
This lighthearted bet between two major airlines became a reality, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already intense soccer rivalry.
In a gracious post, Norwegian Air congratulated England on their semifinal berth, stating that the World Cup journey may be over, but the spirit of this friendly wager will forever soar in the hearts.
British Airways, reveling in their victory, responded with equal wit and warmth. They drew a parallel between the friendship of soccer stars Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, and the camaraderie between the two airlines. In a generous gesture, they offered round-trip tickets to Norwegian Air’s social media team, celebrating the blossoming friendship between the carriers.
Quick to capitalize on the buzz, Norwegian Air launched a clever marketing campaign. They coined the term Norwenglish, a playful blend of Norwegian and English, and rolled out a flash sale on flights between the two nations, turning their sporting loss into a potential business win.
