Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a national holiday following the country’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany, a result that secured Ecuador a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Announcing the decision on X, President Noboa praised the players and coaching staff for overcoming criticism and delivering a memorable victory that united the nation.
“Thanks to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults and the difficult moments they went through, managed to recover and give this immense joy to the entire country. Tomorrow, a holiday!” the president wrote.
Ecuador entered their final Group E fixture knowing that only a victory over Germany would keep their hopes of qualification alive after opening the tournament with a draw against Curaçao and a defeat to Ivory Coast.
Despite conceding the opening goal, the South Americans mounted an impressive comeback to secure a famous 2-1 victory, sparking jubilant celebrations among thousands of supporters inside the sold-out New York/New Jersey Stadium and across Ecuador.
Although Germany suffered defeat, they had already booked their place in the knockout stage as Group E winners. Ivory Coast also progressed after defeating Curaçao 2-0 to finish second in the group.
Ecuador advanced as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams, reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for only the second time in the nation’s history. Their previous appearance in the Round of 16 came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The victory marks one of Ecuador’s greatest achievements on the world stage and provides fresh momentum as the team prepares for the knockout rounds after an impressive turnaround in fortunes.