Canadian rapper Drake lost a massive US$1.5 million wager after backing Argentina to defeat Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. Ahead of Sunday’s match, Drake shared a screenshot showing that he had placed the bet on Argentina to win during regulation time. The wager carried odds of 3.45 and would have returned approximately US$5.175 million, including a profit of more than US$3.6 million, had Argentina secured victory within 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
However, the match remained scoreless throughout regulation, immediately making Drake’s ticket a losing one, regardless of what happened during extra time. Spain eventually defeated Argentina 1-0 after substitute Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute. Argentina were reduced to 10 players after Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card during stoppage time.
The result meant Spain lifted the World Cup trophy, while Drake walked away without the potential multimillion-dollar payout. The loss also revived online discussion surrounding the so-called “Drake curse,” a popular social-media joke claiming that teams or athletes publicly supported by the rapper often go on to lose.
It was also the second consecutive World Cup Final in which the structure of Drake’s wager cost him money. In 2022, he reportedly bet US$1 million on Argentina to defeat France in regulation time. Argentina eventually won the tournament on penalties, but the match was recorded as a draw after 90 minutes, causing that ticket to lose as well. This time, Argentina did not recover in extra time, as Spain’s late goal secured the championship and confirmed Drake’s US$1.5 million loss.
