Ecuador Celebrates World Cup Win with Nationwide Holiday

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a nationwide public holiday on Friday following the national football team's stunning 2-1 victory over Germany, which secured their advancement to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This victory marks a historic achievement for Ecuador, as it is only the second time the country has progressed beyond the group stage, the first being in the 2006 tournament.

Noboa commended the players and coaching staff for their resilience in overcoming criticism and delivering a significant result. The match took place at the New York/New Jersey stadium, where Ecuador equalized through Nilson Angulo in the ninth minute after Germany took an early lead.

Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal in the 77th minute, sealing the famous victory for Ecuador. The team now prepares for their next group stage match, needing a win against Ivory Coast after drawing with Curaçao.