Ecuador has declared a bank holiday on Friday after the team's stunning World Cup win over Germany. President Daniel Noboa announced the decision after La Tricolor came from a goal down to beat Die Mannschaft and reach the last 32 at World Cup 2026.
Historic Victory at MetLife Stadium
The leader of the country was in the stands at MetLife Stadium on Thursday night to witness a historic result. Ecuador needed a win over the four-time world champions to keep their title chances alive and delivered the required result. Noboa praised the team and manager Sebastian Beccacece for steering a path to the knockout stages.
Ecuador's prospects appeared dim when Leroy Sane opened the scoring less than two minutes in, but the South Americans came back with a vengeance. "You never give up on the team, especially not this one," wrote the President in a post shared on his Meta and Instagram pages after the upset win.
Comeback Goals
Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo equalised with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box past Manuel Neuer. Gonzalo Plata sealed the victory with his effort in the 77th minute, completing the comeback.
Germany nonetheless topped Group G ahead of the Ivory Coast on goal difference. Meanwhile, Ecuador finished third on four points and are still awaiting news of their last-32 opponent as the final batch of results come in.
Presidential Praise
A statement on Noboa's official X account read: "Thank you to the players and the manager who, despite the criticism, the insults and the tough times they went through, managed to bounce back and bring this immense joy to the whole country."
Ecuador's World Cup History
Ecuador has become a frequent fixture at the World Cup finals in the 21st century, appearing in five of the last seven editions. Their debut came in 2002. However, this marks only the second time they have advanced to the knockout stages. The pursuit has been simplified in 2026 after the number of teams increased to 48.
Ecuador's only previous knockout appearance was in 2006, when they won two group games against Poland and Costa Rica. They finished behind Germany in that pool as well and eventually bowed out to England following a 1-0 defeat in the last 16. This time, they hope to make more of a splash, and an extra bank holiday will certainly stir morale among the fanbase.
