Canadian rapper Drake has placed a $770,000 bet, roughly N1.07 billion, on Canada to defeat South Africa in their Round of 32 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The wager was placed through Stake, the cryptocurrency betting platform Drake regularly partners with, ahead of the match on Sunday, June 28.

Should Canada progress, Drake stands to pocket a payout of $1,001,000.

The rapper announced the bet on social media, posting a screenshot of the betting slip alongside a dig at South African DJ Black Coffee. "@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM. I had to raise my stakes," he wrote.

The announcement has sparked widespread reactions online, particularly among football fans in Nigeria and across Africa, with many invoking the so-called "Drake curse", a perceived jinx where teams he backs often go on to lose.

The curse has precedent. Drake lost a $1.25 million bet on Argentina to beat France in the 2022 World Cup final after the match went to penalties, and dropped $500,000 on the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup, a bet that also failed. However, he reportedly won over $1 million earlier this year after backing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.

Canada entered the knockout stage having impressed during the group phase, with analysts praising their defensive discipline and attacking transitions under head coach Jesse Marsch. South Africa, meanwhile, has been one of the tournament's surprise packages.

The result will determine whether Drake collects or adds another high-profile loss to his betting record.