Spain held to goalless World Cup draw by Cape Verde as punter loses $1 million bet
A bettor lost $1 million after Spain could only manage a 0-0 draw against 67th-ranked Cape Verde in a World Cup opener, while a second punter turned a $400,000 wager into $4.7 million.
Match upset
Spain, one of the tournament favorites and the reigning European champion, began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. The match, played on Monday, saw the debutant side, ranked 67th, repeatedly frustrate a Spanish attack led by Lamine Yamal. Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha produced a string of saves and left the pitch in tears after the final whistle. Spain failed to find a winner despite prolonged pressure.
Betting fallout
On the Polymarket platform one user placed a $1 million wager on Spain to win, a bet that would have returned about $100,000. The draw rendered that ticket worthless. A separate punter had risked $400,000 on Spain not winning and collected $4.7 million. The contrasting outcomes underscore the scale of the upset.
- Spain win
- 0 $
- Spain not win
- 4700000 $
Market context
Investment bank Macquarie estimates that half a billion dollars are wagered globally on each World Cup match. With 104 games across the expanded 48-team tournament, total handle is projected above $50 billion. In the United States alone $4.1 billion in bets are expected. The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) anticipates nearly €1 billion in wagers within Germany, with €300 million to €400 million likely flowing through illegal operators.
