Canadian rapper Drake has lost a $1.5 million (over N2 billion) bet after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Grammy-winning artiste had backed Argentina to defeat Spain in Sunday’s final, placing the wager through betting platform Stake. Had Argentina lifted the trophy, the bet would have earned him more than $5.1 million. However, Spain clinched the World Cup title after scoring the decisive goal in extra time, leaving Drake’s multimillion-dollar wager unsuccessful.
The defeat has once again fuelled discussions about the so-called “Drake curse,” a popular internet theory suggesting that teams or athletes publicly backed by the rapper often end up losing.
The latest loss adds to a growing list of unsuccessful high-profile sports bets by Drake. Earlier this year, he also lost a wager after backing former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor, who was defeated by Max Holloway.
Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has become known for placing multimillion-dollar bets on major sporting events, many of which attract widespread attention on social media due to their high stakes and frequent losses.
The “Drake curse” has become so widely discussed that fans created a website, TheDrakeCurse.com, dedicated to tracking his betting record and sports predictions.
Spain’s victory over Argentina secured the nation’s second FIFA World Cup title while extending Drake’s streak of costly sporting defeats.
