Ecuador booked its place in the 2026 World Cup knockout stages on Thursday with a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany, while Paraguay’s 0-0 draw against Australia left the Albirroja waiting on results elsewhere to determine its fate.
La Tri‘s chances of advancing appeared slim after an opening defeat to Ivory Coast and a draw against Curaçao left the team needing what many viewed as a near-impossible result against Germany. However, with the Germans already assured of top spot in the group, Ecuador sensed an opportunity.
The dream looked short-lived when forward Leroy Sané put Germany ahead just two minutes into the match. Ecuador responded quickly, with winger Nilson Angulo equalizing before the 10-minute mark and setting up a tense contest.
The South Americans appeared to catch a break at the start of the second half when a penalty awarded to Germany was overturned because of an earlier foul in the buildup. Then, after several missed chances, forward Gonzalo Plata struck in the 77th minute to seal a famous victory and Ecuador’s place in the round of 32.
“The players gave a great gift to the fans. I hope they celebrate and enjoy it,” Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece said after the match.
