Kobbie Mainoo gifts England ticket to dementia campaigner facing same fate as 12 family members

Jordan Adams, a 31-year-old charity fundraiser who has been told he will develop the fatal dementia that killed his mother and 12 other members of his family, watched England face Argentina in Atlanta on Tuesday after Kobbie Mainoo stepped in to provide him with a ticket — and FIFA followed by forging a formal partnership with his campaigning organisation.

Adams, who co-founded the FTD Brothers alongside his brother Cian, posted a video appeal while mid-flight from Heathrow to Atlanta, explaining he had 32 hours to fulfil a lifelong dream. “Eight years ago, I was given a terminal prognosis,” he said in the clip, which quickly went viral. “That means I’m going to get the same frontotemporal dementia that took my mum and 12 relatives. Since then, I’ve made my life as a full-time advocate. It would be a real bucket list moment to go to England vs Argentina in Atlanta.”

Mainoo, one of England’s key midfielders, saw the appeal and reached out directly to arrange tickets. Adams responded publicly: “Massive thank you to Kobbie for showing what a humble and generous human being he is; it’s made me love this team even more. I’ll forever be grateful for this opportunity.”

The story did not end with a seat in the stands. Adams confirmed he attended the match as a FIFA special guest, and that the FTD Brothers will collaborate with football’s governing body on a social media campaign to raise global awareness of frontotemporal dementia. “This is a special experience with FIFA and the chance to spread dementia awareness around the world,” Adams said. “I am on a mission before I die to make a difference and live life to the max as much as possible, and this is a bucket list moment.”

The FTD Brothers, who are from Redditch in Worcestershire, set up their organisation in honour of their mother Geraldine, who died at 52 from FTD in 2016. Both brothers carry the gene that predisposes them to the same condition. Together they have raised close to £2 million for dementia research through sustained campaigning in her memory.