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Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a national holiday after the country’s national football team pulled off a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Germany to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
President Noboa announced the decision on Friday in a post on X, applauding the players and coaching staff for overcoming intense criticism and difficult moments to deliver one of Ecuador’s greatest football achievements.
“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 only a victory would keep their World Cup hopes alive after opening the tournament with a draw against Curaçao and a defeat to Ivory Coast.
The South Americans fell behind early against Germany but produced a spirited second-half comeback to claim a memorable 2-1 victory. The dramatic result sparked wild celebrations among thousands of Ecuadorian supporters at the sold-out New York/New Jersey stadium and back home across the country.
Despite the defeat, Germany progressed to the knockout stage as Group E winners, while Ivory Coast secured second place after defeating Curaçao 2-0.
Ecuador advanced as one of the tournament’s eight best third-placed teams, marking only the second time in the nation’s history that it has reached the FIFA World Cup knockout stage. Their previous appearance in the Round of 16 came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The landmark victory has been widely celebrated across Ecuador, with the government declaring a public holiday to honour the team’s remarkable achievement and unite the country in celebration.
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