Paraguay declares public holiday after stunning Germany in World Cup

Paraguay has declared a one-day national holiday after the team knocked out four-time world champions Germany in a penalty shootout to secure a place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. President Santiago Peña announced the holiday to celebrate the historic victory.

The match in Boston on Monday, June 30, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time. Paraguay won 4-3 in the penalty shootout, avenging their World Cup defeat from 24 years ago. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill's heroics and Jose Canal's winning penalty sealed the victory for Gustavo Alfaro's side.

Shortly after the match, President Peña announced on social media that Tuesday would be a national holiday. "Paraguay never gives up!" he wrote.

Under Paraguayan law, the president has the authority to declare up to three additional public holidays per year.

The victory also marked another piece of history: it was Paraguay's first knockout-stage win against Germany in the World Cup, and Germany's first-ever penalty shootout defeat in the tournament. Paraguay will face the winner of the France-Sweden match in the last 16.