The Drake Curse Just Cost Him $1.5 Million at the FIFA World Cup Final
Drake had warned everyone with his own Instagram caption. "What's that saying??? Better luck…" the rapper wrote alongside his $1.5 million Stake betting slip on Argentina. Spain promptly won 1-0 in extra time. The Drake curse had struck again, and this time it cost him a potential $5.1 million payout at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
What Is the Drake Curse?
The Drake curse is a widely circulated superstition suggesting that any athlete or team publicly backed by Canadian rapper Drake is destined to lose. It is not an official phenomenon but a pattern fans have tracked across years of high-profile wagers gone wrong. The curse has evolved into internet folklore, resurfacing every time the rapper places a visible bet.
How Much Did Drake Lose at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Drake wagered $1.5 million through the crypto betting platform Stake on Argentina to defeat Spain. Had Argentina won, the payout would have exceeded $5.1 million. Spain's 1-0 victory in extra time erased the entire stake.
Why Did His Bet Fail Even If Argentina Had Scored?
The wager reportedly required Argentina to win inside 90 minutes. With the match running to extra time, even an Argentine victory would not have settled the bet in Drake's favour, mirroring almost exactly what happened at the 2022 World Cup, when he reportedly lost $1 million on Argentina despite the team winning, because that match also went beyond regulation.
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Was Drake the Only Big Loser on the Night?
No. According to Yahoo Finance, a trader using the handle gud.hl placed $1.23 million on Argentina at 10% odds, chasing a $12.35 million payout. Spain's win wiped out that entire position. Blockchain analytics account Lookonchain reportedly confirmed the loss.
Who Won Big While Drake Lost?
As per Yahoo Finance, an anonymous trader using the handle yamal19 placed roughly $1.95 million on Spain to win, receiving $3.3 million in return, a profit of approximately $1.35 million.
How Large Did the Prediction Market Get?
Polymarket recorded $4.33 billion in trading volume across its 2026 FIFA World Cup markets. Kalshi logged $1.89 billion over the same period and reportedly added 3 million new users during the tournament
Has the Drake Curse Struck Recently Beyond Football?
Yes. Just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, Drake lost a separate $1 million bet on Irish fighter Conor McGregor in his UFC bout against Max Holloway. The Drake curse shows no signs of lifting. Whether superstition or coincidence, the pattern is now expensive enough that it barely needs a name.
(With inputs from yMedia)