Paraguay on Friday declared a national holiday to celebrate the country’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision was made by President Santiago Peña after the team secured a spot in the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on September 4, 2025, at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción.
President Peña expressed his excitement and gratitude to the team, saying, “Tuvieron que pasar 16 años desde nuestra última clasificación, 16 años sin escuchar nuestro himno en un Mundial. ¡Gracias Albirroja! Hoy la Albirroja volvió. Volvió con alma, corazón y toda la garra guaraní”.
(“It took 16 years since our last qualification 16 years without hearing our anthem in a World Cup.
”(Thanks Albirroja! Today Albirroja returned. It returned with soul, heart, and all the Guaraní claw”).
He also thanked the players, coaches, and fans for their dedication and support.
Paraguay’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, would mark the country’s ninth World Cup campaign.
The team last qualified for the World Cup in 2010, where they reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by eventual winners Spain.
The national holiday was declared to pay homage to the team’s epic campaign, which has inspired the entire nation.
Thousands of Albirroja fans took to the streets to celebrate the qualification, marking a historic moment for Paraguayan football.
