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Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a national holiday after the country’s football team secured a shock 2-1 victory over Germany to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Noboa announced the decision on X, praising the players and coaching staff for overcoming criticism to deliver a historic result. Ecuador went into the final Group E match needing a victory after drawing with Curaçao and losing to the Ivory Coast. They progressed as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Key Points:
Ecuador reached the World Cup knockout stage for only the second time in its history.
The victory came against Germany, who had already qualified as Group E winners.
Ivory Coast finished second in the group after defeating Curaçao 2-0.
President Noboa praised the team for delivering “immense joy” to the nation.
The public holiday reflects the significance of the achievement for Ecuador.
Ecuador now awaits their round-of-32 opponent. The nation celebrates a historic milestone.
Sources: Vanguard, AFP
