Drake wins $1 million after betting on Canada’s World Cup

Canadian rapper Drake has won a seven-figure payout after placing a high-stakes bet on his national team’s historic victory over South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Grammy-winning artist wagered approximately $770,000 on Canada to win their Round of 32 match, which took place on Sunday, June 28. Canada secured a 1-0 win with a dramatic 92nd-minute goal from Stephen Eustaquio, marking the country's first-ever advancement to the World Cup’s last 16.

The bet, placed through the crypto betting platform Stake, carried a total payout of $1,001,000, netting Drake a profit of roughly $231,000. The rapper revealed the wager on Instagram, adding that banter with South African DJ Black Coffee had motivated the gamble. "realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM. I had to raise the STAKES," Drake wrote alongside a screenshot of the betting slip.

The wager quickly became a major talking point on social media, where many fans referenced the so-called "Drake Curse," an internet superstition suggesting that athletes and teams publicly backed by the rapper often lose. This time, however, the curse did not materialize as Canada edged past South Africa. The match had already drawn significant...