Ecuador made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coming from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and qualify for the last 32, in a result that triggered emotional celebrations across the country.

La Tricolor, as Ecuador’s national team is known, went into their final Group E match with just one point and no victory in the tournament, knowing that only a win would keep them alive. Against one of football’s traditional powers, they delivered one of the most dramatic results of the group stage.

Germany struck in the second minute, immediately putting Ecuador under pressure. But Ecuador responded quickly, with Angulo equalising in the ninth minute with a powerful shot from outside the area – the team’s first goal of the tournament after two goalless matches.

The decisive moment came in the 77th minute, when Ecuador scored from a set-piece to complete the comeback and seal a 2-1 victory. The result gave the team its first win of the 2026 World Cup and secured qualification as one of the third-placed teams in the group.

After the final whistle, players and supporters broke down in tears, with scenes of prayer, singing and dancing reflecting the scale of the achievement. For Ecuador, the result was more than a football victory; it was a national moment.

The qualification also carried symbolic weight for the squad. Captain Enner Valencia set a new Ecuadorian record for World Cup appearances, surpassing Edison Méndez and underlining his role as one of the country’s most important football figures.

Ecuador will now face one of Mexico, Switzerland or the winners of Groups 11 and 12 in the round of 32, as they continue what has already become one of the most memorable campaigns in the country’s football history.

President gives nation the day off

The impact of the victory went far beyond sport. Ecuador’s 38-year-old president, Daniel Noboa, took a decision that surprised the entire country, officially declaring Friday, June 26, a national holiday.

“I thank the players and the coach who, despite the criticism, insults and hardships they endured, managed to recover and bring this immense joy to the whole country. Tomorrow is a holiday!” Noboa wrote in a post.