Canadian rapper Drake has lost a $1.5 million (more than N2 billion) bet after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The Grammy-winning artiste had backed Argentina to defeat Spain in Sunday’s final, placing the wager through betting platform Stake.
Had Argentina won, the bet would have returned more than $5.1 million.
Instead, Spain emerged champions after scoring the decisive goal in extra time to claim the World Cup trophy, leaving Drake’s multimillion-dollar wager unsuccessful.
The loss has once again reignited discussion around the so-called “Drake curse” — a popular internet theory suggesting that teams or athletes publicly backed by the rapper often go on to lose.
The latest setback adds to Drake’s growing list of unsuccessful high-profile sports bets. Earlier this year, he also lost a wager after backing former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor, who was defeated by Max Holloway.
The “Drake curse” has become such a widely discussed phenomenon that fans have even created a website, TheDrakeCurse.com, dedicated to tracking the Canadian rapper’s sports predictions and betting record.
Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has become known for placing large bets on major sporting events, with many of them attracting widespread attention on social media because of their high stakes and frequent losses.
Spain’s victory over Argentina secured the country’s second FIFA World Cup title and ensured Drake’s latest multimillion-dollar gamble ended in disappointment.