FIFA World Cup 2026: Ecuador Stuns Germany 2-1 to Reach Knockouts, President Declares National Holiday

The path was not easy for Ecuador. The team had suffered a 1-0 defeat against Ivory Coast in their opening match, while their second game against Curaçao ended in a goalless draw. On the other hand, the German team had already qualified for the knockout stage and was the heavy favorite to win the match.

At the start of the match, Germany adopted a highly aggressive approach. Leroy Sané gave Germany an early lead by firing the match's first shot straight into the goal off a pass from Florian Wirtz. Sané effortlessly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, beating Ecuador's goalkeeper, Hernán Galíndez. Immediately after the goal, Ecuadorian players appealed for a foul. Replays showed that just before the goal, Germany's Aleksandar Pavlović had made contact with the head of Ecuadorian midfielder Pedro Vite, but the referee waved play on.

Despite the early setback, Ecuador did not lose heart; the team bounced back with great vigor and aggression. In the 9th minute, Nilson Angulo pounced on a loose pass from midfield and unleashed a powerful long-range shot that beat the legendary Manuel Neuer, leveling the score at 1-1. The teams remained deadlocked at 1-1 for the remainder of the first half.

The match's decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute. From a corner on the right flank, Kevin Rodríguez leapt into the air and flicked the ball toward the goal, where Gonzalo Plata was perfectly positioned to swiftly guide it into the net. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Ecuadorian fans in the stadium and the players in the dugout.

After taking a 2-1 lead, Ecuador shifted into a purely defensive mode. In the closing stages and the seven minutes of stoppage time, Germany threw everything into the attack in search of an equalizer, but Ecuador's defense stood firm like a rock, thwarting every German attempt. Ultimately, as the final whistle blew, Ecuador emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. This is only the second time in football history that the Ecuador team has advanced beyond the World Cup group stage to the knockout round. The team previously achieved this feat in 2006.