Paraguay erupted in celebration on Friday after clinching a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance on football’s biggest stage in 16 years.

The Albirroja sealed qualification with a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Ecuador on Thursday, enough to secure the final automatic spot from South America.

Within hours, President Santiago Peña declared Friday a national holiday, calling it a tribute to the team’s “epic campaign that has inspired the entire nation.”

“There are kids who have never seen the Albirroja in a World Cup. There are Paraguayans who have waited a lifetime to experience this moment again,” Peña said in his announcement, as thousands of jubilant fans flooded the streets of Asunción and beyond.

Paraguay last featured at the World Cup in 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals in South Africa before being knocked out by eventual champions Spain. Their qualification for the 2026 edition, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will mark their ninth World Cup appearance.

The Albirroja join Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador as South America’s representatives at the expanded tournament.

Globally, at least 17 teams have already booked their spots. Africa’s first ticket went to Morocco, who stormed past the Niger Republic 5-0 on Friday to seal qualification with two games to spare. The Atlas Lions, who stunned the world by reaching the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, will now aim to build on that historic run.

Other confirmed participants include co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada, alongside Asian powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia and New Zealand.

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