Ecuador President Daniel Noboa declared Friday a national holiday after the national team reached the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a shock 2-1 win over Germany.
Ecuador needed a victory in their final Group E match on Thursday following a defeat by Ivory Coast and a draw with Curaçao. The South American side conceded in the second minute of the game but fought back to secure the win, sparking celebrations among fans at a sold-out venue.
Germany had already been assured of qualification as group winners. Ivory Coast finished second after their 2-0 win over Curaçao. Ecuador qualified as one of the best eight third-placed teams, reaching the World Cup knockout stages for only the second time. They advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
The team arrived at the World Cup as highly fancied dark horses on the back of a two-year unbeaten run. But that run ended in the very first match as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Ivory Coast. The result, combined with Germany’s 7-1 win against Curaçao, meant that Ecuador, who were even tipped to top the group ahead of the Germans, were left in an uncomfortable position.
Rated among the dark horses of the World Cup, Ecuador’s failure to register a win in the first two games had caused widespread disappointment. The defence-heavy team failing to beat Curaçao had dampened their chances of progressing from the group before they were reborn from the ashes with a triumph over the four-time world champions.
Ecuador lost only twice in 18 matches to finish second behind Argentina in the qualifications. They conceded five goals across those 18 games and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches overall—spanning nearly two years—conceding just six.
That defensive solidity is no accident. Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea’s £100m signing, sits in front of a back line featuring Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho and Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié, both of whom starred in the Champions League final on May 30.
At their helm is Sebastián Beccacece, a known disciplinarian from Rosario. "Sometimes we feel the pain of defeat but sometimes also the satisfaction of a victory. What is important is to strike a balance. This will not change my life. It will not. But we must indulge ourselves in this joy," he said after the match.
