Kobbie Mainoo helps marathon hero with terminal illness secure World Cup semi-final ticket

England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has stepped in to help Jordan Adams, a London Marathon hero with a terminal illness, secure a ticket to watch the Three Lions face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Adams, 31, ran the 2024 London Marathon carrying a 25kg fridge on his back to raise awareness for dementia, a disease that has claimed 12 members of his family. He and his brother Cian both carry the MAPT mutation, meaning they will almost certainly develop frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The pair have raised nearly £2 million for research under the name 'FTD Brothers'.

After arriving in Atlanta, Adams posted a plea on Instagram for a ticket to the semi-final. The post garnered over two million views, and Mainoo was among those who saw it. 'I've got you brother,' Mainoo commented, later contacting Adams privately to arrange the ticket.

A gesture of kindness

Adams expressed disbelief at Mainoo's generosity. 'None other than Kobbie Mainoo reached out and offered me a ticket. To be quite honest, I'm quite speechless. I can't believe a current England player in the squad at the World Cup would show that level of kindness,' he said.

The act did not stop there. FIFA also got in touch to welcome Adams as a special guest at the Mercedes-Benz Arena for the match. FIFA and the World Cup's Instagram accounts, which together boast over 74 million followers, will collaborate with Adams on a social media post to spread dementia awareness.

• Jordan Adams ran the London Marathon with a 25kg fridge to raise dementia awareness.
• He has lost 12 family members to dementia, including his mother Geraldine.
• Adams and his brother both carry the MAPT mutation linked to FTD.
• Mainoo's comment 'I've got you brother' set the ticket in motion.
• FIFA invited Adams as a special guest and will help amplify his cause.

Adams, who is keen to 'live life in the fast lane' given his prognosis, now looks forward to the semi-final, hoping to see England advance. His story, propelled by Mainoo's kindness and FIFA's backing, will reach an unprecedented audience, furthering dementia awareness on a global stage.