Paraguay Has Declared A Public Holiday After It Knocked Germany Out Of The World Cup In A Massive Upset
The win was considered a major upset, with Germany ranked 10th in the world compared to Paraguay’s 41st.
Paraguay has declared a public holiday after its men’s national football team pulled off a shocking win against four-time world champion Germany at the 2026 World Cup, knocking it out of the competition.
On Monday, June 30, Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the round of 32, knocking Germany out of the tournament.
It was the first time Germany had ever lost a World Cup penalty shootout, according to Al Jazeera.
The win was considered a major upset, with Germany ranked 10th in the world compared to Paraguay’s 41st, according to FIFA’s world rankings.
In response, Paraguay’s government declared June 30 a national holiday.
“PARAGUAY NEVER GIVES UP! HOLIDAY DAMMIT!!” Paraguay’s president Santiago Pena wrote on X right after the defeat.
“Today, an entire country celebrates. It celebrates the victory of a team that represents the deepest part of our identity: the grit, the faith, and the strength of a people who never give up,” he wrote on X after signing the decree, adding the win had united “millions of Paraguayans under the same flag.”
Days earlier on June 25, Ecuador also beat Germany 2-1 in their final Group E game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Germany had already secured enough points to qualify for the round of 32, but the match was decisive for Ecuador, which needed a win to advance.
Ecuador’s player Gonzalo Plata scored the winning goal in the final 13 minutes of the match.
The result secured Ecuador a place in the knockout stage, allowing the team to gain enough points to be one of the eight third-placed teams across the tournament, the final criteria to qualify for the round of 32.
Following the win, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, who attended the match in person, declared Friday, June 26, a public holiday.
“Thanks to the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, the insults, and the tough times they went through, managed to bounce back and bring this immense joy to the entire country,” Noboa wrote on Twitter.
“Tomorrow, holiday! Long live Ecuador,” he announced.
The win marks the first time Ecuador has advanced to the World Cup knockout stage in 20 years, according to ESPN.
Ecuador will face Mexico on Tuesday, June 30 and Paraguay will face either Sweden in the Round of 16.
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