Canadian rap superstar Drake has once again grabbed headlines after placing a massive $770,000 (over ₦1 billion) wager on his home country, Canada, to defeat South Africa in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 encounter.
The Grammy-winning rapper shared details of the high-stakes bet on his social media accounts, revealing that he expects Canada to advance to the next stage of the tournament. The wager immediately generated widespread reactions online, with football fans and betting enthusiasts debating both Canada’s chances and Drake’s confidence ahead of the crucial knockout fixture.
Drake reveals reason behind the huge wager
Explaining what inspired the bet, Drake disclosed that renowned South African DJ and producer Black Coffee had been teasing him in private messages before the match.
Sharing a screenshot of the betting slip, Drake jokingly wrote:
“@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM. I had to raise my stakes.”
His playful response suggested that the friendly rivalry between the two music stars encouraged him to back Canada with one of his biggest football wagers in recent months.
More than ₦1 billion on the line
According to the betting slip posted online, Drake staked $770,000, equivalent to more than ₦1 billion, on Canada to secure victory over South Africa.
Should Canada win the Round of 32 clash, the rapper stands to receive a payout of approximately $1,001,000, earning more than $231,000 in profit.
The bet quickly went viral across social media platforms, where fans reacted with a mixture of excitement, amusement and concern, especially given Drake’s well-known history of making high-profile sports wagers.
The famous “Drake Curse” resurfaces
Whenever Drake publicly supports a team or athlete, many sports fans often joke about the so-called “Drake Curse”—an internet superstition suggesting that teams backed by the rapper frequently suffer unexpected defeats.
Although the theory has become a popular meme over the years, Drake has also celebrated several successful bets and winning predictions across football, basketball, boxing and mixed martial arts.
His latest wager has once again sparked discussions among supporters of both Canada and South Africa, with some Canadian fans hoping this time the superstition proves false.
Canada and South Africa battle for quarter-final hopes
Canada and South Africa meet in one of the most anticipated Round of 32 fixtures of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Canada enters the match looking to continue its impressive run on home soil after progressing from the group stage, while South Africa hopes to extend Africa’s strong performance at this year’s tournament.
The winner will secure a place in the Round of 16 as the knockout stages continue across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Social media reacts
Drake’s betting announcement quickly dominated conversations on social media, with many users sharing humorous reactions.
Some fans encouraged South Africa by suggesting the “Drake Curse” would work in their favour, while others applauded the rapper’s confidence in Canada’s national team.
Supporters of Black Coffee also joined the online banter, adding to the friendly rivalry between the Canadian superstar and the South African music icon.
Drake’s love for sports betting
Drake has become widely known for placing multi-million-dollar wagers on major sporting events.
Over the past few years, he has publicly shared bets involving the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, UFC championship fights, boxing matches and international football competitions.
His betting slips frequently attract global attention due to their enormous value, often involving hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars.
Whether his latest prediction proves successful remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: football fans around the world will be watching closely as Canada and South Africa battle for a place in the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With more than ₦1 billion riding on the outcome, Drake has added another intriguing storyline to one of the tournament’s biggest knockout matches.
