The Body Coach Joe Wicks pleads with British Airways to show the England match on his flight as the Three Lions prepare to take on Argentina

1 hour ago 5

Joe Wicks has requested that British Airways air the England vs Argentina World Cup semi-final match during his flight while the game is on tonight.

The Body Coach's flight clashes with the time the game is due to kick off, with the Three Lions hoping to secure a place in Sunday's final.

Joe, 40, was hoping that the airline would be showing the game as in flight entertainment, but BA have confirmed they can't due to 'legal reasons'.

Tagging them in the request on X, Joe wrote: 'Hey @British_Airways will I be able to watch the England match on my flight tomorrow?'.

The social media team replied: 'Hi Joe, 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'.

Clearly unimpressed with their response, Joe replied with a string of crying face emojis underneath. 

Joe Wicks has requested that British Airways air the England vs Argentina World Cup semi-final match during his flight while the game is on tonight

The Body Coach's flight clashes with the time the game is due to kick off, with the Three Lions hoping to secure a place in Sunday's final

Joe, 40, was hoping that the airline would be showing the game as in flight entertainment, but BA have confirmed they can't due to 'legal reasons'

Joe was offered a series of alternatives by Kirstie Allsop, who suggested he should get a VPN and listen on the radio, or buy a ticket to the game.

She said: 'Unless something has changed you won't be able to, 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.'

Legal reasons suggest they don't have the broadcast licensing rights. A broadcaster may have the right to show a match in the UK, but not over international airspace.

For those that can watch the game tonight, millions across the UK will be tuning in from their living rooms or piling into pubs.

If they do make it to Sunday's final, London will host huge football watch parties.

As many as 20,000 fans are set to swarm the O2 Arena for the final if the Three Lions are victorious tonight.

It has been billed as the most likely venue following its hosting of the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.

But some fans have expressed their annoyance that there are not already mass screenings in the capital for tonight's game, which is already a historic tie with our bitter rivals of 60 years on world football's biggest stage.

Joe was offered a series of alternatives by Kirstie Allsop, who suggested he should get a VPN and listen on the radio, or buy a ticket to the game

England will take on Argentina in Atlanta, Georgia, tonight (pictured Argentina fans in Atlanta)

One angry fan ranted on Reddit: 'Why is it that all these other continental European countries know how to put together a couple of large screens and get thousands (or even tens of thousands) of people together in big squares and public spaces.

'Sometimes they even open up stadiums or proper parks for it. Why can we not do this?'

The criticism is not unfounded as last time England got to the World Cup semi finals in 2018, City Hall and the government opened up a 30,000 capacity screen in Hyde Park and ran a ballot for fans to watch the heartbreaking defeat to Croatia.

However, the park had already been open for large events that year and had no functions planned at the time so there was little organisation needed to set up the watch party.

This year the park's summer series is already over and it is understood there was not enough time to safely organise such a huge shindig, with England's guaranteed spot in the semi final only being confirmed in the early hours of Sunday morning against Norway.

City Hall said: 'Like all Londoners, the mayor has been blown away by England's incredible run to the semi-finals of the Fifa World Cup.

'There are no plans for a screening of the match against Argentina but the mayor hopes the team go all the way to lift the trophy in New York next Sunday.'

Instead, the Mayor's office encouraged 'Londoners to join together on Wednesday night in the capital's pubs, clubs, bars and hospitality venues to cheer on England to victory while supporting the hospitality industry'.

Should England go on to raise the World Cup trophy, organisers would stage celebrations on Tuesday July 21 in London, it is understood.

The final kicks off in New York at 8pm UK time and would end at latest at around 11pm if it were to go all the way to penalties.

Should we win, City Hall, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Westminster City Council and the FA would all collaborate to bring together what would likely be the largest celebration for a sporting event the UK has ever seen.

Plans are in place, but so are the dangerous teams of Argentina and Spain in England's way.

Read Entire Article