Canadian rapper Drake has emerged a major winner off the pitch after placing a high-stakes bet on Canada’s narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
The Toronto-born artist reportedly wagered $770,000 on Canada to win the match, a move that ultimately returned a payout of just over $1 million, earning him an estimated profit of about $231,000.
Drake later shared details of the wager on Instagram, suggesting the bet was partly motivated by playful online exchanges with South African DJ Black Coffee.
“@realblackcoffee was chirping in the DM I had to raise the STAKES,” he posted, alongside a screenshot of the betting slip.
On the pitch, Canada secured a dramatic late win at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with midfielder Stephen Eustáquio scoring a stoppage-time volley to seal the result and send the co-hosts into the Round of 16.
The defeat brought an end to South Africa’s historic World Cup run. The team had impressed in the group stage, finishing second in Group A to reach the knockout rounds for the first time after qualifying for the expanded 2026 tournament.
Under coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana recorded notable performances, including a 1-0 win over South Korea, before eventually bowing out against Canada after a tightly contested encounter.
