Ecuador Declares Holiday After Historic World Cup Win Over Germany

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared Friday a nationwide public holiday following the country’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany, a result that secured Ecuador’s place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The announcement came shortly after Ecuador produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by defeating the four-time world champions at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, advancing beyond the group stage for only the second time in the nation’s history.

In a message posted on his X account on Friday, Noboa commended the players and coaching staff for overcoming criticism and difficult moments to deliver a memorable performance for the country.

“Thanks to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough times they went through, managed to bounce back and bring this immense joy to the entire country. Tomorrow, holiday! Long live Ecuador,” the president wrote.

Ecuador entered the decisive Group E encounter knowing that only a victory would keep their World Cup hopes alive after opening the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire before playing out a goalless draw against Curaçao.

Germany made the perfect start to the match, taking the lead in just the second minute through Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané.

However, Ecuador responded almost immediately as Nilson Angulo found the equaliser in the ninth minute, bringing the South Americans back into contention.

The game remained evenly balanced until the 77th minute when Gonzalo Plata scored the decisive goal, sparking jubilant celebrations among Ecuadorian players and supporters.

The victory sealed Ecuador’s qualification for the Round of 32 and matched the country’s best-ever World Cup performance, having previously progressed beyond the group stage only at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Germany, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing exit after failing to recover from Plata’s decisive strike.

The historic result has been widely celebrated across Ecuador, with fans taking to the streets to mark one of the country’s greatest achievements in international football.

Attention will now turn to Ecuador’s Round of 32 fixture, where they will look to continue their impressive World Cup campaign and attempt to reach the last 16 for the first time in the nation’s history.