Paraguay's President Santiago Peña declared Tuesday a national holiday after the Albirroja — as the national team is affectionately nicknamed — pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eliminating four-time world champions Germany in a penalty shootout to reach the round of 16. "Today a whole country is celebrating," Peña wrote on X, where he published the official decree, which states that Paraguay "has shown the world" its resilience and that the government "cannot remain indifferent to this achievement."
The match, played Monday in Boston as part of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time. Paraguay won the shootout 4-3, with goalkeeper Orlando Gill making two crucial saves and defender Gustavo Canale converting the decisive kick. It marks the first time in history that Germany has been knocked out of a World Cup following a penalty shootout. Paraguay, a landlocked country in central South America, will face the winner of the France-Sweden tie in the round of 16, scheduled for July 4 in Philadelphia.
On the pitch, Paraguay's standout forward Julio Enciso, widely regarded as one of the country's most exciting young prospects, gave his side the lead with a header before Chelsea midfielder Kai Havertz equalised for Germany in the second half. Enciso's subsequent withdrawal through injury forced coach Gustavo Alfaro — an Argentine tactician — to reshuffle his side, which nonetheless held firm through mounting German pressure during extra time and ultimately prevailed from the spot.
The victory carries deep significance for a nation that had not qualified for a World Cup since South Africa 2010, when the Albirroja reached the quarterfinals — still their best-ever performance at the tournament. That sixteen-year absence made qualification itself cause for celebration: Peña had already used a newly enacted law, which permits him to declare up to three special public holidays per year, when Paraguay secured its World Cup berth last September. Tuesday's declaration was only the second time he has exercised that power.
Scenes of jubilation broke out across Asunción and other cities as fans waved flags and embraced in the streets following Canale's decisive penalty. The result is widely seen as one of the tournament's most remarkable moments, reflecting not only Paraguay's resilience on the field but also the renewed hope of a football-loving nation returning to the world stage after a long absence.