Young Englishman Funds Grandfather's World Cup Dream
A 21-year-old Englishman used his life savings to take his 80-year-old grandfather to the 2026 World Cup, a gesture that went viral and inspired a U.S. company to refund his £10,000 after England's victory over DR Congo.
A heartwarming World Cup story unfolded when 21-year-old Jacob Allmendinger from East Yorkshire, England, made the bold decision to use his £10,000 (approximately 450,000 baht) savings—money he had carefully set aside for his future—to take his 80-year-old grandfather Jeff Galliger to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Jacob, the journey was far more than just watching football; it was a way to repay the love his grandfather had given him throughout his life. Since childhood, Jeff had always taken Jacob to football matches, making their bond as close as best friends rather than typical grandparent-grandchild relationships. Over the years, Jeff had consistently accompanied Jacob to watch Hull City matches, and now Jacob wanted to return the favor by sharing the atmosphere of the World Cup together.
During their travels through the United States and Mexico, the story of these two went viral online, with football fans deeply moved by Jacob's sacrifice and commitment to create lasting memories with someone he cherished. Touched by their story, a U.S. company called Metawin reached out to Jacob through social media and announced they would refund the £10,000 if England could defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Previously, the company had set a condition that they would return the money if England defeated Panama by more than 2 goals, but when England won only 2-0, the company still pledged to refund the money if the Three Lions beat DR Congo, regardless of the score.
After England's 2-1 victory over DR Congo, Metawin honored their promise and transferred the full £10,000 back to Jacob, shocking him completely. "At first, I didn't really believe it," Jacob said. "Until I checked my bank account and actually saw the money there. That's when I was completely shocked."
Jacob revealed he would save the money for now and possibly deposit it into a savings account to consider his options, which now include attending other sporting events or even reviving his dream of buying a house.
Grandfather Jeff shared that they had been increasingly approached by football fans during their travels, especially in New York where people asked, "Are you the ones traveling around?" Meanwhile, Jacob acknowledged that messages from people worldwide made him realize just how precious time spent with loved ones truly is, as some opportunities may never come again.
