Christmas Lottery number 19726, which coincides with the date of Spain's World Cup victory over Argentina, has become one of the country's most sought-after tickets. It has sold out at almost every lottery outlet in Spain, but Motril, in Granada, remains an exception: Club Waterpolo Motril has held the number for years and is now 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 receive their allocation from the Loterías Fajardo administration in Motril and report a steady stream of requests from across Spain. Club president Gerardo Romano says team members and their families have always played the number, but demand has overwhelmed them this year. He says it went viral after Spain's win and now ranks among the draw's most desirable numbers.
Romano says the club has collected its assigned tickets from the local lottery office, but requests began arriving before the tickets were picked up. With only a few left, he doubts any will remain by September if the current pace continues. He says this year feels special for Motril because of the World Cup win and because local actress Tusti de las Heras appears in the official Christmas Lottery television advert.
María Jesús Egea, from the Loterías Fajardo administration, confirms unprecedented demand for 19726 since it went on sale. Only tickets reserved by the water polo club and a few regular players remain, she says, while the administration continues to receive calls from across the country. Egea adds that the number remains available for other draws throughout the year, but the Christmas Lottery allocation is nearly exhausted.
National sales of Christmas Lottery tickets began on July 9. The 2026 draw is set to distribute €2.87 billion in prizes, €98 million more than the previous year. Proximitiy Madrid created this summer's promotional campaign, which focuses on solidarity and sharing. It uses the slogan “Y tú, ¿qué harías con todo esto?” and has a budget of €373,000. About 10% of tickets are traditionally sold during the summer months, making early demand for specific numbers especially impressive.
The scale and reach of the draw are also reflected in lottery-number search tools. La Verdad's locator pages, updated from October 22 to 24, let users enter a number and find listed selling outlets. Motril listings include administrations on Calle Nueva, Avenida de Salobreña and Calle Ancha. The directory gives buyers a way to find participating outlets as interest in particular numbers spreads beyond their original communities.
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. Some numbers attract strong demand each year because they are linked to impressive dates or events. The rush in Motril shows how local clubs and organizations often help distribute tickets, sometimes holding numbers that later draw national attention. This year's demand for 19726 follows Spain's football triumph and reflects the Christmas Lottery's enduring cultural importance in Spanish society.
