Players of Ecuador celebrate after their 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group E match against Germany at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, on June 25, 2026. Sathire Kelpa / Anadolu (Photo by Sathire Kelpa / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has announced a public holiday for Friday. This is after Ecuador surprised Germany with a 2-1 win, allowing them to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement came after the historic win at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. This victory allowed Ecuador to move past the group stage for only the second time ever.
In a post on X, Noboa praised the players and the coaching staff for rising above criticism to achieve this result.
"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," he wrote.
Ecuador entered the Group E match needing a win after losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast and drawing 0-0 with Curaçao in their first two games.
Germany scored first in the second minute with a goal from Leroy Sané. But Nilson Angulo equalised just seven minutes later.
Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal in the 77th minute, securing a famous victory for Ecuador and a spot in the last 16.
This result marks only the second time Ecuador has moved past the World Cup group stage, matching their achievement from the 2006 tournament.
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