Fitness star Joe Wicks has issued a public plea to British Airways after the airline refused to show the upcoming England World Cup semi-final match on his flight. The Three Lions are set to face Argentina on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at 8pm UK time in Atlanta, Georgia, but Wicks' travel plans clash with the kick-off.
Joe Wicks' Social Media Plea
The 40-year-old Body Coach took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask British Airways if he could watch the match during his flight. He wrote: "Hey @British_Airways, will I be able to watch the England match on my flight tomorrow?" The airline's social media team quickly responded with a firm 'no', citing legal reasons. "Hi Joe," they replied. "For legal reasons, we're unable to stream live sporting events, unfortunately. However, I'm sure the crew will keep you informed of the score throughout your flight."
Wicks, visibly disappointed, responded with three crying emojis. Many social media users jumped in with suggestions, including British TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, who offered a practical workaround.
Kirstie Allsopp's Solution
The Location, Location, Location presenter advised Wicks to use a VPN and listen to BBC Radio 5 Live, or download the FOTMOB app for live updates. She also extended a personal invitation: "Unless something has changed you won't be able to [watch the match live]. Get a VPN and listen on Radio 5 live, also the FOTMOB app is great. Or come to Atlanta with me, I just bought a ticket and I'm waiting to board my flight."
Fans questioned British Airways' 'legal reasons', pointing out that other airlines like Emirates do show live matches. Some speculated that the airline lacks broadcast licensing rights for international airspace. In a separate response, British Airways suggested using in-flight wifi to follow the game, stating: "Unfortunately, we do not show live sporting events as part of our in flight entertainment. If your flight has WiFi available, you may be able to use this to follow the game."
England vs Argentina: Match Details
England will face Argentina in the semi-final at Atlanta Stadium, which has a retractable roof. Despite weather forecasts predicting thunderstorms, a stadium spokesperson confirmed the match would proceed as scheduled. "Since the stadium is covered, the match is not weather-dependent so it will be played as scheduled," they said. "No, it won’t be delayed, the game will start as planned regardless of weather. We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of fans, but it won’t delay the start of the game if fans are still entering the stadium or are delayed entering due to weather conditions."
