The excitement and banter for 2026 FIFA World Cup has extended far beyond the football pitch, with airlines joining the competition in a light-hearted social media showdown. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash between Norway and England on 12th July, Norwegian Airways have sparked online buzz on Instagram by placing a bet that has captured the attention of football supporters and travellers alike. The bet is simple - whichever nation loses Saturday’s World Cup match will see its airline swap its Instagram profile logo for its rival’s for one day.
The rivalry between the European nations began when Norwegian challenged British Airways on Instagram, writing: “If Norway wins, you have to switch to our logo on Instagram on Sunday (one day). And vice versa. Deal?” British Airways responded with “Don’t make bets you can’t win.” This post has plenty of engagement with fans loving this banter and it has gone viral on social media. Watch the post here.
British Airways accepts the challenge as the banter continues
The exchange between these two airlines continued with another tongue-in-cheek post from British Airways, tagging Norwegian and hinting that it had something to say. Norwegian quickly replied: "We have something to tell you too. Check our last post," directing followers back to its original challenge asking: "Will you take the bet?"
British Airways officially accepted the wager, replying: "Hey there. Challenge accepted! Just don't be surprised if we take the win at cruising altitude." For which the Norwegian responded: "Love the confidence. Check your DMs for the logo swap."
As the banter continues on social media, all eyes will be on the World Cup clash between England and Norway. The outcome will not only determine the winner on the pitch, but it will also decide whether British Airways keeps its iconic Instagram logo or temporarily swaps it for Norwegian's for 24 hours. This is a crucial match for both these European sides as the winner will make it to the Semi-Final of the 2026 World Cup.
