Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a national holiday following La Tri's historic 2-1 victory over Germany at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The dramatic win on Thursday night, June 25, confirmed Ecuador's place in the knockout stage, securing their advancement as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament. This marks only the second time in history that the South American nation has reached the World Cup knockout rounds, matching the milestone previously achieved at Germany 2006.
Comeback Victory Under Pressure
Sebastian Beccacece's side entered the match under immense pressure, having picked up just one point from their opening two group games. Their situation worsened after just two minutes when Leroy Sané fired Germany ahead, converting a precise lay-off from Florian Wirtz. However, Ecuador responded just seven minutes later. Nilson Angulo calmly slotted the ball past Manuel Neuer after being played through by a clever pass from Pedro Vite. The decisive moment came 13 minutes from time when Gonzalo Plata netted the winning goal, sealing a memorable comeback.
President's Declaration
Following the final whistle, President Noboa took to social media to praise the squad and coaching staff for overcoming immense pressure and skepticism to deliver a historic moment for the nation. In a post on X, Noboa expressed his gratitude to the team for rising above the difficult moments and bringing immense joy to the entire country, concluding his message with the declaration of the national holiday and a celebratory shout of 'Long live Ecuador!'
According to the president's official statement, the holiday applies to all public and private sectors, allowing citizens to celebrate the achievement. The victory has sparked widespread celebrations across Ecuador, with fans gathering in major cities to honor the team's resilience and historic qualification.
