An official holiday in Paraguay on the occasion of the victory over Germany in the World Cup

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena declared Tuesday a national holiday to celebrate the surprise victory achieved by the national team over Germany, which pushed it to reach the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup.

The team, coming from South America, surprised Germany, the winner of the title four times, by defeating them 4-3 on penalties after the two teams tied 1-1 after extra time, achieving one of the biggest surprises in the history of the World Cup.

“Today, the whole country is celebrating,” Pena wrote on the “X” platform, accompanied by a photo of him signing the decree.

He added, “This represents a celebration of the victory of a team that represents the deepest aspects of our identity: determination, faith, and the strength of a people who never give up.”

The text of the decree, which Pena also published on social media, stated that Paraguay’s victory went far beyond the scope of sports and deserved a nationwide celebration.

The decree stated, “The government cannot ignore this great achievement. It is necessary to facilitate the coming together of all members of the people of Paraguay to celebrate this historic day.”

Paraguay is the second country in South America to declare a holiday after a surprise World Cup result against Germany during the tournament.

Last week, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa also declared a national holiday after his country achieved a 2-1 victory over the Germans in the fifth group to qualify for the knockout stages.