Jacob Allmendinger, 21, used approximately $13,300—five years of savings earmarked for a home down payment—to take his 80-year-old grandfather, Geoff Golliker, to the FIFA World Cup. The journey of a lifetime allowed them to follow England's matches in New York, Atlanta, and Mexico City, including the team's 3-2 victory over Mexico.
Their story garnered significant attention online, leading to recognition from fellow fans during their travels. This publicity caught the eye of U.S.-based online crypto casino Metawin. The company initially pledged on social media to reimburse Allmendinger if England defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This offer followed a separate proposal to repay him if England beat Panama by more than two goals, a condition that was not met.
Following England's 2-1 win against DR Congo, Metawin fulfilled its promise. Allmendinger expressed his astonishment, stating he didn't believe it until he saw the funds in his bank account.
Allmendinger plans to save the reimbursed money while considering future possibilities, such as attending the European Championships or eventually purchasing a home. He emphasized that while he can always earn more money, the opportunity to travel to the World Cup with his grandfather was a unique experience. Allmendinger described his relationship with his grandfather as being more akin to best friends than traditional family.
The FIFA Fan Festival in Philadelphia also saw significant viewership, with the U.S.-Bosnia and Herzegovina match setting an English-language soccer viewership record, according to Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas.