Jul 12, 2026
A young man, who used his life savings to take his grandfather to the World Cup, has had that money refunded to him by an online crypto casino that fell in love with their story.
Jacob Allmendinger, 21, from East Yorkshire, England, spent his £10,000 house fund (approximately $13,400) to take his grandad, Geoff Golliker, to North America to watch England play in the 2026 World Cup.
Advertisement
“The choice was between this or a house deposit, and I don’t regret choosing it at all,” Allmendinger told the BBC in June. “You can make the money back, but memories are forever.”
Thanks for subscribing!
Money advice that fits your real life.
By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
The two have followed The Three Lions around the U.S. and Mexico as they have progressed in the tournament. After beating Norway on Saturday, England is now in the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018.
A surprise gift
Allmendinger and Golliker’s story quickly went viral.
Golliker, 80, told the BBC in a July interview: “We’re getting recognized quite a bit. When we were in New York, a guy came up to us and said, ‘Are you the guys traveling around?’ It was brilliant.”
After England’s comeback victory in the round of 32 against DR Congo in Atlanta, Allmendinger had a surprise waiting for him in his bank account. It was the money he had spent nearly one year ago when he booked the trip.
“I didn’t quite believe it, to be honest, until I looked at my bank and it was there,” he said. “I was just in shock.”
The money was gifted to him by Metawin, an online crypto casino, according to the BBC. Metawin did not immediately respond to Moneywise’s request for comment.
Allmendinger said the cash could go towards a myriad of things, including going with his grandfather to the European Championships in 2028 or towards a house.
“Anything is possible,” he said.
Advertisement
Must Read
- The ultra-rich use these 5 real estate strategies to build wealth while they sleep — you can start with just $100
- Here’s the average income of Americans by age in 2026. Are you keeping up or falling behind?
- Insurance companies profit most from drivers who auto-renew without shopping around. Comparing 100+ quotes takes 2 minutes and costs nothing
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Watching England at the World Cup
The grandson-and-grandfather duo have been treated to some classic matches following England around North America. In addition to witnessing England’s thrilling win over DR Congo, they also visited the infamous Azteca Stadium where they watched England beat Mexico 3-2.
“It was a once-in-a-generation game to watch,” Allmendinger said.
Golliker agreed.
“The Mexican fans were absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Very happy, very boisterous. The atmosphere that’s built up is fantastic.”
Most recently, the two were in attendance to watch England’s quarterfinal victory over Norway in Miami.
England will next play Argentina in a World Cup semifinal on June 15 in Atlanta.
You May Also Like
- JP Morgan sees gold hitting $6,000/oz before 2027 — and a Gold IRA lets you hold the physical metal while deferring the tax bill. Get your free guide from Priority Gold
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here’s where their money is going
Danni Santana is a journalist based out of New York City with a decade of experience reporting and editing business stories about retail, restaurants, sports, and personal finance.
