By Onyekachi Victoria Philip
The excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup final came with a costly twist for some celebrities who placed their confidence and money on Argentina to defeat Spain.
Argentina’s hopes of securing another World Cup title were ended after Spain claimed a dramatic 1–0 victory after extra time, leaving superstar supporters reportedly counting their losses after their predictions failed.
Among those affected was Canadian music superstar Drake, who reportedly placed a $1.5 million wager on Argentina to win the final. The defeat meant the massive bet did not yield the expected return, with football fans once again linking the outcome to the widely discussed “Drake curse,” a phrase often used online whenever teams or athletes backed by the rapper suffer unexpected setbacks.
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor was also reported to have joined the list of celebrity bettors who backed Argentina. Reports stated that McGregor placed a $100,000 bet on Argentina winning the final with a 3–2 scoreline, but Spain’s extra-time triumph ended that prediction.
In Africa, Kenyan comedian and media personality Oga Obinna reportedly suffered a major setback after losing a KSh 4 million wager placed on Argentina.
Also in Africa, Nigerian actress Destiny Etiko was also reported to have lost ₦5 million after backing Argentina to overcome Spain in the final clash.