The Christmas Lottery number 19726, matching Spain's World Cup final date, is nearly sold out nationwide. Only Motril still has tickets, thanks to a water polo club. Requests are flooding in from across Spain.
The Christmas Lottery number 19726, which coincides with the date of Spain's World Cup victory over Argentina, has become one of the most coveted tickets in the country. While this number has sold out in almost every lottery outlet across Spain, Motril in Granada remains the exception. The reason: the Club Waterpolo Motril has held this number for years, and now finds itself at the center of a nationwide rush.
Interest in 19726 has soared since Spain secured its second World Cup title on July 19, 2026. The club's representatives, who receive their allocation from the Loterías Fajardo administration in Motril, report a constant stream of requests from all over Spain. According to the club's president, Gerardo Romano, the number has always been played by team members and their families, but this year the demand has overwhelmed them. He notes that the number went viral after Spain's win and is now among the most desirable in the draw.
Romano explains that the club has already collected its assigned tickets from the local lottery office, but the volume of requests began even before they picked them up. With only a few tickets left, he doubts they will have any remaining by September if the current pace continues. He also points out that this year feels special for Motril, not only because of the World Cup win but also because a local actress, Tusti de las Heras, features in the official Christmas Lottery television advert.
María Jesús Egea, from the Loterías Fajardo administration, confirms the unprecedented demand for 19726 since it went on sale. She says that only the tickets reserved by the water polo club and a few regular players remain, and that the administration continues to receive calls from across the country. Egea adds that while this number is still available for other draws throughout the year, the Christmas Lottery allocation is nearly exhausted.
The national sale of Christmas Lottery tickets began on July 9, with the 2026 draw set to distribute €2.87 billion in prizes—an increase of €98 million over the previous year. This summer, the lottery's promotional campaign, created by Proximitiy Madrid, focuses on solidarity and sharing, using the slogan “Y tú, ¿qué harías con todo esto?” and a budget of €373,000. Traditionally, about 10% of tickets are sold during the summer months, making early demand for specific numbers especially notable.
The Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as El Gordo, is one of the world's oldest and largest draws, with a tradition dating back to 1812. Each year, certain numbers become highly sought after due to their association with significant dates or events. The phenomenon seen in Motril highlights how local clubs and organizations often play a key role in distributing these tickets, sometimes holding onto numbers that later gain national attention. The surge in demand for 19726 this year reflects both the impact of Spain's football triumph and the enduring cultural importance of the Christmas Lottery in Spanish society.
