Fan wins $8m thanks to Spain’s win over France in World Cup semi-final
Spain defeated France in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, resulting in a massive payout for a bettor who wagered $5 million against France. The victory marks a significant upset, as France was widely considered the tournament favorite.
Why it matters
High-stakes sports betting and major tournament upsets highlight the intersection of global sports culture and the growing financial influence of betting markets.
Spain just recorded perhaps the biggest shock in the 2026 World Cup to date by beating France in the semi-finals.
To say that the European champions weren't given much of a chance heading into the game would clearly be unwise.
Still, prior to the events in Dallas on Wednesday, many had predicted that the free-scoring French would win the World Cup this summer.
They, however, lost 2-0 to Spain and rarely even threatened to make it a competitive game.
It seems incredible to say now but France were considered favourites before it kicked off. So much so, in fact, that one lucky observer just won an awful lot of money.
According to Polymarket Sports, one user put a huge $5m on France to lose the semi-final, which underlines just how confident most people were that they would progress.
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