Norwegian Air changes Instagram logo to British Airways after England’s World Cup quarter-final victory

By Arjun Nair / 13.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Following England’s 2-1 victory over Norway in their FIFA World Cup quarter-final match, Norwegian Air temporarily updated its Instagram profile picture to feature the British Airways logo. This change was in fulfillment of a social media wager between the two airlines, which had been agreed upon prior to the match.

The friendly bet stipulated that the airline representing the losing nation would display the winning airline’s logo on its Instagram profile for 24 hours. After Norway’s defeat, Norwegian Air honored the agreement, replacing its own branding with the British Airways Speedmarque logo shortly after the final whistle.

The Social Media Wager

The light-hearted challenge originated days before the quarter-final fixture. Norwegian Air initiated the bet on Instagram, proposing that if Norway won, British Airways would switch its Instagram logo to Norwegian Air’s for one day, and vice versa. British Airways initially responded with a confident tone, suggesting that Norwegian Air should not make bets it could not win.

As the exchange continued, Norwegian Air playfully teased that its British counterpart might be hesitant to accept the challenge. British Airways then replied with a football-themed pun, stating, “Scared? Nor-way, mate.” The UK flag carrier ultimately accepted the wager, adding a remark about taking the win at “cruising altitude.”

This playful interaction quickly gained traction across social media platforms, with both football enthusiasts and aviation fans commending the airlines for their sporting banter. Other airlines also joined the conversation, with Malaysia Airlines joking about watching the contest and Austrian Airlines quipping about bringing schnitzel instead of taking sides. SWISS humorously declared its focus on preparing for Lionel Messi rather than watching the match.

Match Drama and Norwegian Air’s Gracious Response

The quarter-final match itself provided considerable drama. Norway, making its first-ever FIFA World Cup quarter-final appearance, took an early lead when Andreas Schjelderup scored. However, England mounted a comeback, with Jude Bellingham scoring two goals, including the decisive winner in the 93rd minute of extra time. This secured a 2-1 victory for England and confirmed their spot in the semi-finals against defending champions Argentina.

Following Norway’s elimination, Norwegian Air not only changed its Instagram profile picture but also shared a celebratory graphic featuring the British Airways branding alongside the message, “It’s coming home.” The accompanying caption from Norwegian Air expressed a gracious sentiment: “While the tournament is over for us, this friendly bet will forever live in all our hearts. We wish England and British Airways all the best in the semi-final, and we sincerely hope you’ll get to bring football home!”

British Airways responded to this gesture by posting a carousel with the caption, “Rivals for 90 minutes, friends forever. A little competition keeps things interesting, thanks for challenging us.” The exchange was highlighted as one of the tournament’s memorable marketing moments, showcasing how good-humoured sporting rivalry can generate goodwill.

Norway’s World Cup Journey

The quarter-final marked a significant milestone for Norway, as it was their first time reaching the last eight of the World Cup. This achievement came after the team qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1998. Norway’s previous best performances in the World Cup included reaching the Round of 16 in 1938 and 1998, along with a group-stage appearance in 1994.

Despite the defeat, Norway’s striker Erling Haaland embraced his former Borussia Dortmund teammate and England’s match-winner, Jude Bellingham, after the final whistle. Haaland praised Bellingham as “one of the best in the world,” adding that “England is lucky because everybody would want a Jude in the team.” Reflecting on Norway’s World Cup run, Haaland stated, “How we put Norway on the map… touches me the most. I think this changes Norway, I think it changes me.”

England, who previously won the World Cup in 1966, is now one victory away from reaching another final, as they prepare to face Argentina in the semi-final.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com