Ecuador has declared a nationwide public holiday after its national football team secured a historic place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany.

President Daniel Noboa announced that Friday, June 26, would be observed as a non-recoverable national holiday following Ecuador’s qualification for the Round of 32, describing the team’s achievement as a moment of national pride. The declaration was formalised through Executive Decree 431 and applies to both the public and private sectors, with essential services exempted to ensure continuity of critical operations.

The decision came hours after Ecuador staged a remarkable comeback against four-time world champions Germany in their final Group E match. Germany opened the scoring just two minutes into the game through Leroy Sané, placing Ecuador under immediate pressure in a match they had to win to keep their World Cup campaign alive.

Ecuador responded quickly when Nilson Angulo equalised in the ninth minute, restoring hope before Gonzalo Plata completed the turnaround with the winning goal in the 78th minute. The result secured Ecuador’s progression to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, capping one of the biggest upsets of the competition so far.

The victory marked only the second time Ecuador has advanced beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup. The South American nation last reached the knockout rounds at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, making this year’s qualification its first in two decades.

Following the final whistle, celebrations erupted across Ecuador as fans gathered in major cities to mark the achievement. In his statement, President Noboa praised the players, coaching staff and supporters for what he described as a performance that united the country. He said the public holiday would allow Ecuadorians to celebrate the milestone together.

Under the presidential decree, schools across the country were also ordered to remain closed for the day. The Ministry of Education confirmed that classes in both public and private institutions would be suspended, while hospitals, security agencies, electricity providers, water services, financial institutions and other essential sectors were instructed to maintain minimum operational staffing.

Ecuador head coach Sebastián Beccacece described the victory as the most significant World Cup result in the country’s history. He credited his players for overcoming early setbacks in the tournament and showing resilience against one of international football’s most successful nations.

Ecuador entered the decisive fixture under pressure after opening its campaign with a defeat to Ivory Coast and a draw against Curaçao, leaving victory over Germany as the only realistic path to qualification. The team’s response against the four-time champions earned widespread praise from football analysts, who described the comeback as one of the defining moments of the tournament’s group stage.

The result also extended Ecuador’s impressive recent progress on the international stage. Over the past decade, the country has strengthened its football development programmes, producing a new generation of players competing in some of Europe’s top leagues. That investment has helped establish Ecuador as one of South America’s emerging football powers and a consistent competitor on the global stage.

With the group stage now complete, Ecuador will shift its focus to the knockout rounds, where it will seek to build on its historic achievement and continue its deepest World Cup run since making its tournament debut in 2002.

The victory over Germany has already secured its place in Ecuadorian football history, with the government’s unprecedented decision to declare a national holiday underscoring the significance of the achievement for the country.