Drake wins $1million World Cup bet as Canada beat South Africa
Canadian music superstar Drake has won more than $1 million after successfully backing Canada to defeat South Africa in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
The Toronto-born rapper wagered $770,000 on his home nation to progress, with Canada's 1-0 victory delivering a total payout of approximately $1,001,000 and a profit of around $231,000.
The result not only marked Canada's biggest-ever achievement at a men's FIFA World Cup but also ended South Africa's impressive tournament campaign.
Drake backed Canada before kick-off
Drake revealed the wager on Instagram before the match, sharing a screenshot of the bet placed through Stake, the cryptocurrency betting platform with which he has maintained a long-running commercial partnership.
The rapper explained that the bet came after some friendly banter with internationally renowned South African DJ Black Coffee.
He wrote:
"@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM. I had to raise the STAKES."
The post quickly went viral, with fans debating whether the famous "Drake curse" would once again affect the team he supported. Instead, Canada emerged victorious.
Eustáquio delivers historic victory
Canada secured their place in the Round of 16 thanks to captain Stephen Eustáquio, who struck deep into second-half stoppage time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
His superb finish handed Jesse Marsch's side a famous 1-0 victory and sent Canada into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in the country's history. The win also ended South Africa's memorable run after Bafana Bafana had impressed throughout the group stage.
South Africa's historic tournament comes to an end
Although eliminated, South Africa leave the tournament with plenty of positives. The team produced one of their strongest World Cup campaigns, progressing from the group stage after defeating South Korea and attracting widespread support across Africa.
Head coach Hugo Broos guided Bafana Bafana to performances that restored belief in South African football on the global stage. However, Canada's late winner brought the journey to an emotional conclusion.
Another major win for Drake's betting portfolio
Drake has become almost as well known for his enormous sports wagers as for his music. Reports estimate he has risked close to £1 billion across sports betting and casino games over recent years.
His betting portfolio includes FIFA World Cup, NBA Playoffs, NFL Super Bowl, UFC title fights, Formula One, Premier League football. While some bets have delivered huge returns, others have become famous losses.
Redemption after 2022 World Cup loss
One of Drake's most public betting defeats came during the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. He reportedly wagered £837,000 on Argentina to defeat France in normal time.
Although Argentina eventually lifted the trophy after penalties, Kylian Mbappé's dramatic late equaliser forced extra time, causing Drake's bet to lose. This latest Canada victory represents one of his biggest football betting successes since then.
Canada dream on
Canada now advance to the Round of 16, where they will face either Morocco or the Netherlands. With Alphonso Davies returning from injury and Eustáquio delivering one of the defining moments in Canadian football history, confidence within Jesse Marsch's squad continues to grow.
For Drake, the victory delivered both national pride and a seven-figure payday.
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