sports
Stranger Pays for Father's World Cup Trip to Seattle After Article
A father who wrote about being unable to afford a promised World Cup trip received an offer from a stranger to cover flights, lodging, and tickets for himself and his twin sons. After initial suspicion and reports to authorities, the offer proved genuine and the group attended a match in Seattle.
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A father who had written about being unable to afford a World Cup trip he had promised his twin sons received an offer from a stranger to cover the cost of flights, accommodation, and tickets. The man, identified in messages as Avi, contacted the author via LinkedIn days after the article appeared.
He offered to pay for travel from Australia to Seattle for a match between Australia and the United States.
The author reported the messages to police and the FBI after his family expressed concern that the offer was fraudulent. He also sent passport copies to the sender before communication paused for several hours. Avi later confirmed the booking and arranged a video call. The author verified three confirmed seats on a flight under his name and the boys' names.
The group traveled to Seattle for four days centered on the tournament. They visited fan areas and joined other Australian supporters before entering the stadium. The sons led chants on the way to the venue despite one using crutches after recent knee surgery.
The three recreated a photograph taken sixteen years earlier showing the same poses and expressions. Avi later wrote that he was glad he had chosen to make the offer with no conditions attached.
