- Drake reportedly wagered $1.5 million on Argentina to win within 90 minutes of the 2026 World Cup final — Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain, costing him an estimated $5.1 million payout.
- The result revived talk of the "Drake Curse," given Drake’s recent high-profile betting flops (including about $1M lost on the Patriots and $300K on Jannik Sinner).
- Ironically, Drake did cash in on Argentina once before — a $1M win in the 2022 World Cup final — but his 2026 tip didn’t come true.
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- An 11-minute, star-studded halftime at the 2026 World Cup final in NY/NJ was curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and featured Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, Shakira and Burna Boy.
- Surprise cameos included Brazilian icons Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, with conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic and Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
- Playful pop-culture touches rounded it out — Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso introduced Bieber, alongside the PS22 Chorus, Ghetto Kids, Emmanuel Kelly and Muppets Kermit and Miss Piggy.
- A chance meeting with NFL QB Jameis Winston at Argentina’s opener blew up into a viral video of them singing Argentinian soccer songs and hugging after Messi goals.
- Winston and FOX surprised Santi with tickets to the Atlanta semifinal, cementing a friendship that’s turned both into emotional World Cup moments.
- Santi road-tripped across the U.S. to follow Argentina, witnessed dramatic comebacks (Egypt, England), is camping near NYC for the final — and hopes Winston will even officiate his wedding in Argentina.
- Spain are back in a World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 triumph — a nostalgia trip to La Roja’s Tiki-Taka era and a fun generational contrast: Messi (22 in 2010) vs teen Lamine Yamal.
- An octopus named Paul stole the show in 2010 by “predicting” eight knockout results (including Spain’s win), a quirky piece of World Cup lore.
- The summer’s pop-culture soundtrack and hits live on: Shakira’s “Waka Waka” and K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag,” plus blockbuster movies like Despicable Me, Twilight: Eclipse, Toy Story 3 and Inception.
- England players and fans have been singing Oasis’s "Wonderwall" after each 2026 World Cup win — captain Harry Kane called the Croatia victory at Dallas Stadium one of his favorite England moments.
- The choice is practical: teams submit playlists to FIFA, and England listed "Wonderwall," "Sweet Caroline" and "Hey Jude" (a nod to Jude Bellingham), so "Wonderwall" emerged as the post-win anthem.
- A neat talking point: Oasis’s Noel Gallagher has family ties to Manchester, helping the song feel especially connected to England as it replaces the long-time stadium favorite "Sweet Caroline."
- Erling Haaland is soaking up U.S. culture — from trying a New York deli sandwich to getting a custom cowboy hat and posting playful Snapchat clips.
- Former NFL champ Julian Edelman calls him a "European Gen Z Gronk," comparing Haaland's growing off-field personality to Rob Gronkowski's larger-than-life vibe.
- He’s red-hot for Norway (7 goals in 5 games, including a brace vs Brazil) as they head into a World Cup quarterfinal against England in Miami.
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