Canadian rap superstar Drake has won more than $1 million after his high-stakes wager on Canada to defeat South Africa in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup paid off following the hosts’ narrow 1-0 victory.
The Grammy Award-winning musician had staked $770,000 on Canada to overcome the South Africans in one of the tournament’s most anticipated knockout fixtures, with the bet generating widespread attention across social media in the days leading up to the match.
Canada’s victory not only secured a place in the Round of 16 but also earned Drake a total payout of $1.001 million, translating to an estimated profit of about $231,000. Blueprint reports
High-stakes bet draws global attention
Drake, known for his passion for sports betting, revealed details of the wager on his social media platforms before kick-off.
The Canadian entertainer joked that South African disc jockey and record producer Black Coffee had motivated him to increase the stakes after exchanging messages ahead of the game.
“@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM. I had to raise my stakes,” Drake wrote while sharing a screenshot of the bet placed through online betting platform Stake.
The post immediately attracted millions of views, with football fans and betting enthusiasts closely monitoring the outcome of the World Cup encounter.
Many supporters described the wager as one of the biggest celebrity bets of the tournament, considering the enormous amount involved and the significance of the knockout match.
Canada advance to round of 16
Drake’s confidence in the Canadian national team was rewarded as the tournament co-hosts edged South Africa 1-0 to book their place in the Round of 16.
The closely contested encounter saw Canada maintain defensive discipline while capitalising on a decisive opportunity to eliminate the African side from the competition. FIFA.com
The victory marked another historic milestone for Canadian football, with the Maple Leafs continuing their impressive campaign on home soil after progressing from the group stage.
Their qualification has been widely celebrated by supporters, who believe the team’s performances reflect the rapid development of football in Canada in recent years.
For South Africa, however, the defeat brought an end to what had been an inspiring World Cup journey.
Bafana Bafana had captured global attention by reaching the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history, becoming one of Africa’s standout performers during the tournament.
Despite their elimination, the South Africans earned widespread praise for their resilience and competitive displays against some of the world’s strongest teams.
Drake’s betting habit continues
Drake has built a reputation over the years for placing eye-catching bets on major sporting events.
The Canadian rapper has frequently shared wagers involving football, basketball, American football, mixed martial arts and boxing, often risking hundreds of thousands of dollars on high-profile contests.
While some of his bets have ended in disappointment, others have delivered substantial returns, reinforcing his image as one of the world’s most prominent celebrity sports bettors.
His betting activities have also fuelled the popular online phenomenon known as the “Drake Curse,” a superstition among sports fans suggesting that teams backed publicly by the rapper often go on to lose.
However, Canada’s victory over South Africa provided another example where that narrative failed to materialise.
Celebrity Interest Adds to World Cup Excitement
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has attracted significant attention from celebrities, musicians, athletes and public figures across the globe.
With the tournament being jointly hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, numerous entertainment personalities have attended matches, interacted with players and expressed support for their respective national teams.
Drake’s successful wager became one of the most talked-about off-field stories of the competition, generating widespread reactions from fans on social media.
Many congratulated the rapper on his million-dollar win, while others joked that Black Coffee’s pre-match banter ultimately proved costly.
Growing commercial appeal of the World Cup
Celebrity involvement has further highlighted the enormous commercial appeal of the FIFA World Cup.
The tournament has continued to attract global sponsors, broadcasters and high-profile personalities, reinforcing its status as the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Football analysts believe such celebrity engagement contributes to expanding the competition’s global audience, particularly among younger fans who closely follow entertainment figures alongside sports.
With the tournament entering the Round of 16, excitement continues to build both on and off the pitch as teams battle for a place in the quarter-finals and supporters around the world eagerly follow every twist in the race for football’s most prestigious trophy.
For Drake, Canada’s progression to the next round not only kept alive his country’s World Cup dream but also delivered one of the biggest betting wins of his sporting portfolio, proving that his confidence in the hosts was richly rewarded.
Blue Print
