World Cup country gets Bank Holiday after teams lands knockout place | Football | Sport
Ecuador declared a Bank Holiday following the team’s remarkable World Cup victory over Germany. President Daniel Noboa made the declaration after La Tricolor overturned a deficit to defeat Die Mannschaft and secure their place in the last 32.
The head of state was present at MetLife Stadium on Thursday to witness a landmark result for the national side. Ecuador required victory over the four-time world champions to progress and delivered the necessary performance to keep their tournament ambitions alive. Noboa commended the squad and manager Sebastian Beccacece for their efforts in navigating a route to the knockout phase, then promptly declared a public holiday for the following day, June 26.
“You never give up on the team, especially not this one,” the president posted on social media. “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 chances looked bleak when Leroy Sane found the net inside two minutes, but the South Americans responded superbly. Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo restored parity with a magnificent curling strike from the edge of the area beyond Manuel Neuer. Gonzalo Plata then won it with a 77th-minute strike.
Germany still claimed top spot in Group G ahead of the Ivory Coast on goal difference. Ecuador finished third on four points and are in line to face Mexico next, as it stands.
Ecuador have featured in five of the last seven editions of the tournament, having only made their World Cup debut in 2002. But this is just the second time they have progressed to the knockout stage.
Admittedly, that feat has been made somewhat easier in 2026 following the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams. Ecuador’s sole previous knockout appearance came in 2006 after victories over Poland and Costa Rica in the group stage. They also finished behind Germany in the group that year as well.
They were knocked out by England after suffering a 1-0 defeat in the last 16. Two decades on, they will be hoping to make a far greater impact – and an extra Bank Holiday will undoubtedly do wonders for the spirits of their supporters.
