Drake's $1.5M USDT Bet Fails As Spain Beats Argentina In FIFA World Cup Final

A $1.5 Million Bet Gone Wrong

Rapper Drake has lost a $1.5 million $USDT wager after backing Argentina to beat Spain in regulation time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Drake had wagered $1.5 million USDT on Argentina to beat Spain in regulation time, placing the bet through the crypto gambling platform Stake and announcing it on Instagram. Drake missed out on a roughly $5.1 million payout, while Argentina missed out on the World Cup trophy.

The critical detail in the bet was the regulation-time condition. The match extended beyond 90 minutes, meaning the wager was lost regardless of the final outcome. A similar regulation-time condition had already cost Drake his last World Cup payout, even though Argentina won in 2022 by going to extra time.

Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, completing a successful World Cup campaign for the European side. Spain had conceded just one goal in six matches through the tournament heading into the final.

The Drake Curse and Crypto Markets

The superstition, widely known as the "Drake Curse", suggests that any athlete or team that receives public support from the rapper is destined for a disappointing result. Website TheDrakeCurse, which tracks his public wagers, labels him as "cursed," noting a strike rate of just 36.8% over nearly 90 high-stakes bets. Earlier this year, he reportedly suffered a $1 million loss after the New England Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and lost another $300,000 after backing Jannik Sinner against Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.

On the crypto prediction market side, the result was more rewarding for at least one trader. According to on-chain analytics platform Lookonchain, a Polymarket trader profited nearly $1.35 million by backing Spain before the final. Traders on Polymarket had committed $123.5 million to Spain's outcome and $158 million to Argentina's, meaning more dollars flowed toward the underdog even though its win probability trailed Spain's. The World Cup winner market on Polymarket generated $4.3 billion in total trading volume since launching in July 2025.

Drake has partnered with Stake, the crypto betting platform, since a reported $100 million deal in 2022. Despite the loss, his public betting habit shows little sign of slowing, keeping the Drake Curse narrative firmly in the sporting conversation.

Sources:
Fox Sports: Drake Curse Continues After $1.5M Argentina Bet
BeInCrypto: Drake Eyes $5M Crypto Payout in World Cup Final
Bitcoin.com News: World Cup Betting Frenzy and Polymarket Data