World Cup: Paraguay's president Santiago Peña declares national holiday after shocking win over Germany
World Cup: Paraguay's president Santiago Peña declares national holiday after shocking win over Germany
Chris CwikTue, June 30, 2026 at 1:01 PM UTC
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Soccer fans could not have asked for a better start to the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Of the three games Monday, two ended in shootouts. The other ended after a goal in stoppage time.
While Morocco and Brazil deserve plenty of credit for their exciting wins, Paraguay's victory was arguably the most shocking of the bunch. Though Germany hasn't performed well at the World Cup in recent years, the country is considered one of the powerhouses at the event.
So, when Paraguay pulled out the upset win in sudden death, no one celebrated harder than Paraguay's fans, and that included the country's president Santiago Peña.
Peña enjoyed the victory so much that he declared Tuesday a national holiday in honor of the team's win over Germany. Peña's office released a statement telling fans to use the day to "come together and celebrate a day that united millions of compatriots under a single flag and renewed the hopes of an entire people."
He ended the statement by declaring the win is proof that great things are possible when people work together.
"The national team's qualification restores Paraguay to a prominent place in world football. It is proof that teamwork, discipline, sacrifice, and conviction make it possible to achieve extraordinary goals.
"Today, the Albirroja celebrates. Today, all of Paraguay celebrates!"
To say it was a surprising result would be an understatement. Coming into the game, the last time Paraguay played in the Round of 32 came back in 2002. The country didn't even qualify for the past three World Cups. In their brief history at the World Cup, Paraguay has only advanced as far as the Round of 16. That's happened just three times, including 2026.
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Germany, on the other hand, has a rich history at the World Cup. While the team failed to get out of the group stage in both 2022 and 2018, it won the 2014 World Cup, finished in third in both 2010 and 2006 and was the runner-up in 2002. The Germans have won the event three other times — 1954, 1974 and 1990.
Paraguay needed every single minute — and more — to pick up the win over Germany on Monday. After an early goal, Paraguay held up against a relentless German offense, with Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill coming up with save after save to keep the game tied 1-1.
The game eventually went into extra time, where it looked like the Germans had finally broken through and won. But the team's goal was overturned on replay after it was determined Gill had been interfered with on the play.
Eventually, the game went to a shootout, and even that wasn't enough to determine a winner. With both teams still tied after five kicks each, the shootout went to sudden death. Paraguay's José Canale came through, sending his kick away from Germany's goalkeeper and sending Paraguay to the Round of 16. It marked the first time in World Cup history that the Germans sustained a penalty shootout loss at the event.
The win sets up Paraguay to pull off something the country has never experienced at the World Cup. If the team can win its next game, it would advance past the Round of 16 for the first time ever at the event.
After giving the country a holiday following Monday's win, Peña will have to step up his game even more if Paraguay's excellent run continues.
Source: “AOL Sports”
