Ecuador president declares nationwide day off after shock World Cup win
Ecuador footballers gave the country a holiday (photo: x.com/FIFAWorldCup)
A sensational victory over Germany’s national team not only sent Ecuador into the World Cup playoffs — it also pushed the country’s president to take an unusual step. Instead of a regular working day, Ecuadorians were given a nationwide public holiday, according to an official statement from the country’s presidential press service.
A decree that surprised the world
President Daniel Noboa personally signed a decree making June 26 a public holiday for all sectors of the economy. The government’s main goal is to allow citizens to share a moment of unity and pride in the national team.
“The national government recognizes the dedication of our team, which has brought joy that goes far beyond the football pitch. This is a moment that fills the entire country with pride,” the official document states.
Why this is more than just a victory
The result of the match against Germany (2–1) looks like a real Hollywood script:
Will to win: Ecuador conceded an early goal in the 2nd minute, but instead of collapsing, they managed to take control of the game. In the 9th minute, Nilson Angulo equalized, and in the 77th minute, Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal, securing a historic victory for the South American team.
A historic moment: for the country, this is only the second time it has reached the playoffs in its entire World Cup history. The last time Ecuador advanced from the group stage was exactly 20 years ago, in 2006.
Now the Ecuador national team, which looked like an underdog at the start of the tournament, is preparing for the next stage in the round of 16, while the entire country is officially celebrating this success.
