Canadian rapper Drake has placed a $1.5 million (about ₦2.3 billion) bet on Argentina to defeat Spain in Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with the wager potentially earning him more than $5.1 million if the reigning champions retain the title.
The five-time Grammy Award winner, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, shared a screenshot of the betting slip on his Instagram account ahead of the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States.
Sharing the post on Instagram, the 39-year-old wrote, “What’s that saying??? Better luck next time…”
The bet has reignited discussion about the so-called “Drake curse”, an internet superstition suggesting that teams or athletes publicly backed by the Canadian musician often go on to lose major sporting events.
The theory has gained popularity over the years after several high-profile bets placed by Drake ended unsuccessfully. It drew renewed attention following his reported $1 million wager on former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who lost to Max Holloway.
The superstition has become so widely followed that a website, TheDrakeCurse.com, was created to track the rapper’s sports betting record and the performances of teams and athletes he publicly supports.
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Argentina enter Sunday’s final seeking to become the first men’s team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni’s side will face European champions Spain, who are aiming to win their second World Cup title after lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
The final also features two of football’s biggest stars, Lionel Messi and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, in what is expected to be one of the most watched sporting events of the year.
Away from football, Drake returned to music earlier this year with the surprise release of three albums, Iceman, Maid Of Honour and Habibti, his first major projects since 2023. Iceman became his seventh number one album on the UK Albums Chart.
The Canadian artist is known for chart-topping songs including God’s Plan, One Dance, Passionfruit and Hold On, We’re Going Home.
He has also remained in the spotlight because of his widely publicised feud with American rapper Kendrick Lamar, whose diss track Not Like Us became one of the biggest songs of 2024.
