Drake Stakes N2.3bn on Argentina to Beat Spain in World Cup Final

Canadian rapper Drake has placed a massive $1.5 million (approximately N2.3 billion) bet on Argentina to defeat Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, reigniting conversations around the famous “Drake curse.”

The award-winning musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, revealed the high-profile wager on Sunday by sharing a screenshot of the betting slip with his millions of followers on Instagram ahead of the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

According to the betting slip, Drake stands to win more than $5.1 million if Lionel Messi’s Argentina successfully defend their World Cup title by overcoming Spain in the championship match.

Accompanying the post, the 39-year-old rapper wrote, “What’s that saying??? Better luck next time…”, signalling his confidence in Argentina’s chances of lifting the trophy.

The latest wager has once again fuelled discussion about the so-called “Drake curse,” a long-standing superstition among sports fans that athletes and teams publicly backed by the rapper often suffer unexpected defeats.

Over the years, several clubs, boxers, mixed martial artists and footballers associated with Drake before major contests have gone on to lose, giving rise to the widely discussed phenomenon.

The superstition gained renewed attention after Drake reportedly lost a $1 million bet on former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who was defeated by Max Holloway.

The trend has become so popular that a dedicated website, TheDrakeCurse.com, was created to monitor the rapper’s betting history and the performances of teams and athletes he publicly supports.

Beyond his interest in sports betting, Drake has remained active in the music industry.

Earlier this year, he surprised fans with the release of three albums — Iceman, Maid Of Honour and Habibti — marking his first major body of work since 2023.

The releases proved commercially successful, with Iceman becoming his seventh number one album on the United Kingdom Albums Chart.

Widely regarded as one of the most successful artists of his generation, Drake has won five Grammy Awards and is known for global hits including God’s Plan, One Dance, Passionfruit and Hold On, We’re Going Home.

With billions of naira now riding on Argentina’s success, football fans around the world will be watching not only the World Cup final but also whether Drake can finally break the infamous betting jinx.