Chance meeting during World Cup watch party in Koreatown turns into a friendship and labor of love

KOREATOWN, LOS ANGELES () — A chance meeting at a World Cup watch party in Koreatown sparked a friendship that turned into a labor of love for an elderly man down on his luck. A soccer fan and some friendly online strangers are coming to his rescue.

Nate Yi says he was at a watch party for the South Korea-Mexico game when he noticed this adorable 70-year-old man named Peter, alone, holding both teams’ flags. Nate invited Peter to join them and watch the game together. But the sweet gesture didn’t end there.

Nate has since learned that Peter has survived for the last 30 years just by sharpening knives for vendors as a trade — wearing a unique vest to market his skills.

Peter has been a bit down on his luck lately. His bike was stolen. Nate began posting updates online, as well as a GoFundMe page to help. The two reunited this week for a special surprise.

Nate surprised Peter with a brand new e-bike. Peter was very excited for his gift.

“He said he’s so grateful, that he doesn’t even want to use the bike. He wants to keep it at home and protect it. And so yeah he’s very happy, but I don’t know if it serves the purpose,” Nate said. “He’s just very grateful he says thank you to everybody that was helping in getting the bike.”

It’s proof that a small act of kindness can go a long way — sometimes even further than we think.

“So I asked him how he felt the first time we met at the World Cup game and he said that he had actually felt like he had given up on life and when he met me and I, sort of gently nudged him, and then told him to sit with us, he kind of was uplifted. But then after I contacted him again and after we hung out, then he feels like I’m like an angel from heaven,” Nate said.

Nate says he was able to purchase the beautiful e-bike for Peter because more than 450 donated to the GoFundMe page and raised more than $20,000. That GoFundMe page is still active for anyone wishing to help.

It’s a World Cup friendship between two fans from different generations — making a world of difference.