Competition
World Cup 2026
The biggest loser of the 2026 World Cup has been identified following Spain versus Cape Verde
When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may receive an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works .
Copy link
X
The 2026 World Cup has experienced its share of 'giant killings', more in the form of draws than outright wins, with Spain and Belgium the latest teams to be left frustrated.
Last night, Japan delivered an outstanding performance against the Netherlands, coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw.
Today, Egypt battled to a 1-1 stalemate with Belgium, and Spain were held by Cape Verde in a 0-0 result—but what was the financial loss on that match?
Play our FREE match predictor and win £1k
Spain frustrated by Cape Verde as biggest lost wager at 2026 World Cup is revealed
Spain delivered a disastrous performance by their lofty standards against Cape Verde this afternoon, being held to a 0-0 draw. One of the biggest shocks in World Cup history .
The Group H fixture saw a Spanish forward break a pitiful 60-year record at the World Cup ... and a staggering sum of money lost by a single individual.
How did Cape Verde qualify for World Cup 2026?
Spain forward breaks remarkable 60 year record against Cape Verde
Spain vs Cape Verde prediction as European champions take on World Cup debutants
According to Polymarket Sports, one individual was aiming for a return of roughly $85,000 with a Spain victory today.
To achieve that? The bet was placed for a massive $1 million, all of which was lost due to Spain's eventual draw.
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
To make matters worse for the individual, the result was a statistical anomaly in every sense, and should have led to a Spanish victory in nearly all alternate realities.
Luis De La Fuente's side generated over 10 times the xG that Cape Verde did, with 2.10 compared to their opponent's 0.20.
They also ended the match with 74% possession and 27 shots to Cape Verde's six.
🚨BREAKING: Someone just put $1M on Spain to WIN their match vs Cape Verde today This pays out is $1,085,943.48 on Polymarket pic.twitter.com/7ODo3dJ7Pl June 15, 2026
🚨BREAKING: Someone just put $1M on Spain to WIN their match vs Cape Verde today This pays out is $1,085,943.48 on Polymarket pic.twitter.com/7ODo3dJ7Pl June 15, 2026
To add insult to injury, it was Cape Verde's goalkeeper, Vozinha, who claimed the match's Man of the Match award, having saved seven Spanish shots.
Six of those came from inside the box, with Vozinha preventing a whopping 1.45 xG with his saves.
For now, the unlucky bettor—if they can even be called that, with $1 million to wager in the first place—will hold the title of being the 2026 World Cup's biggest loser so far.
Kedar Bayley is a trained journalist specializing in culture reporting. As a fan of Liverpool FC, he writes on the Reds often. Knowledgeable about all things sports, cinema and television, you can find his words in Screen International, FourFourTwo, Manchester Evening News and more.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
1 The biggest lost bet of the 2026 World Cup just landed after Spain vs Cape Verde
2 Gary Lineker promises to host The Rest Is Football in his pants if one thing happens at the 2026 World Cup
3 Who is the referee for Saudi Arabia v Uruguay?
4 Chelsea look to scupper Manchester United transfer as they identify Marc Cucurella replacement: report
5 How to watch Iran vs New Zealand for FREE: Live stream details for overshadowed World Cup 2026 group match in Inglewood