Canadian rapper Drake has suffered another costly sports betting defeat after losing a $1.5 million wager on Argentina to beat Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The Grammy winning artist, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, backed defending champions Argentina to defeat Spain in regulation time. The bet, placed through online betting platform Stake, would have earned him a payout of more than $5.1 million if Lionel Messi’s side had won.
Instead, Spain produced a disciplined display to defeat Argentina 1-0 after extra time, sealing their second FIFA World Cup title. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the second half of extra time after a tense, goalless contest in New Jersey.
Drake had shared a screenshot of his betting slip on Instagram before the final, expressing confidence that Argentina would deliver another World Cup triumph. The defeat, however, meant the Canadian superstar lost the entire $1.5 million stake.
The result has once again revived discussions around the so-called “Drake curse,” a long running internet superstition suggesting that teams or athletes publicly backed by the rapper often go on to lose. While there is no evidence that Drake’s support influences sporting outcomes, the phrase has become a recurring joke among football fans whenever one of his high profile bets fails.
The World Cup loss adds to a difficult week for Drake, who also reportedly lost $1 million after betting on Conor McGregor to defeat Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor’s comeback ended in a first round TKO defeat after he suffered a serious knee injury early in the fight.
Despite the latest setback, Drake remains one of the world’s most recognizable celebrity sports bettors, regularly placing multi-million-dollar wagers on football, basketball, mixed martial arts and other major sporting events. His betting activity frequently generates headlines and sparks lively debate across social media.
Although the loss is substantial, it is unlikely to slow Drake’s enthusiasm for high-stakes betting. For many fans, however, the latest defeat has simply added another chapter to the enduring legend of the “Drake curse.”
