How blind faith in the internet helped a man fulfill a World Cup promise

1 1 1 →1 0 →1 2 →0 7 →1 2 →2 1 →0 5 →1 0 →0 1 →1 1 →1 2 →2 3 →1 1 →4 3 →0 3 →1 1 →1 4 →2 1 →0 1 →3 1 →1 4 →1 6 →0 1 →0 Live 0 →0 - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- - →- How blind faith in the internet helped Ash Jurberg fulfill a World Cup promise to his sons Sat 20 Jun 2026 at 4:58am Ash Jurberg still can't believe he's in Seattle with his 19-year-old sons. A week ago, the travel writer from Melbourne received a message on LinkedIn promising him tickets and flights to the United States for the Socceroos game against the US. "Had 21 followers, no photos, which would send off alarm bells to normal people, but I'm not normal," Ash joked as he soaked in the pre-match festivities in Seattle. The message was in response to an article Ash wrote for Business Insider, and American publication, about a promise he had made to his sons in 2010. "I went to the World Cup in South Africa, and my identical twin boys, they'd just turned three," he said. "A week before I was going to the World Cup, I got divorced, I was pretty emotional, wondering whether I should go or not. "Everyone said go, it's probably the best thing, so I bought us matching Tim Cahill jerseys, took a photo, and made a promise to them that as soon as they turn 18, I'll take them to the World Cup." But when he tried to get tickets to games in the United States, along with accommodation and flights, he realised he couldn't justify the expense. "It was going be like the cost of a deposit on a house," Ash said. "We sat down and said, do you really want do it? I made this promise. If you really want to do it, I'll find a way to do it." "They said, 'No, no, we'll spend it elsewhere'. "I was really disappointed because it's been such a big build-up." Ash wrote about his disappointment, and several days later the message arrived. A scam? Or a generous stranger? He conversed with the account, sceptical it was a real offer to help but hopeful nonetheless. After several conversations in which Ash promised his story was true, the account offered to buy tickets and flights for him and his sons. "I've gone: 'Yeah, OK, what's the catch? What's the string? What do you want out of me?'" he said. "He kept saying, 'No strings attached, no strings attached'. "Eventually he said: 'I'm a father myself, I just read the story at the right time, it resonated with me, they really want help you out'." The account didn't ask for financial information but did request a copy of Ash and his sons' passports, which he sent. "He just disappeared," Ash said. "I was out and about. I got home and told my wife. "She goes: 'Are you the stupidest person in the world? Why have you sent passport details to a random person? Did you check him out? Did you speak to him?'" Ash started to panic. He had sent his passport details to an anonymous account on LinkedIn which purported to be a generous benefactor. He started preparing to report the scam to the police, his financial institutions and the Australian government. "I emailed the FBI, which surely have better things to do. I was just panicking, just trying to do all those stops," he said. "I started sending this guy messages and he's not replying. I'm distraught." After hours of no reply, the account replied. Ash asked for some form of identification and started searching for him on the internet. "He's a CEO and founder of a company. He's quite wealthy, owns properties and stuff around the US," Ash said. A video call between them convinced Ash the man was trying to do a nice thing, and he jumped at the opportunity to take up the offer. In the hours that followed, Ash received three flights to the United States, including an upgrade for his son Charlie who is on crutches, accommodation and tickets to the Socceroos game in Seattle. "Category one, like seven rows from the front on the sideline, amazing tickets. I'm going, this is ridiculous," he said. "I'm not a religious guy but I wanted to thank God. I wanted to thank Patrick Phipps, the God of Carlton. "Within 24 hours I've gone from, this could be exciting, to I've been scanned, I'm losing all my money, to tickets, premium economy flights, accommodation. "Hey boys, in two days' time we're going to the World Cup." Ash declined to provide the man's name. He said in their conversations the generous businessman told him he did not want recognition. "His exact words were: 'I'm just so glad that I had the balls to do it and I approached someone and offered this to them.' "He goes: 'I knew you'd think this is a scam but I just really wanted to make this work.'" [Image text:] CARLTON ALLCLUB