Paraguay declares national holiday after historic World Cup qualification

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña declared a national holiday to celebrate the Albirroja's historic advancement to the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. The unexpected victory over Germany in a penalty shootout secured Paraguay's place in the next stage of the tournament, prompting widespread national jubilation.

The national holiday has directly impacted the legislative calendar, forcing the Chamber of Deputies to suspend its ordinary session planned for Tuesday. Raúl Latorre, President of the Chamber of Deputies, confirmed the postponement, stating that the holiday "affects the session." He assured that the legislative projects scheduled for Tuesday would not be abandoned but would be addressed in an extraordinary session at a later date.

In contrast to the Chamber of Deputies' suspended session, a joint session of Congress is scheduled to proceed as planned on Tuesday at 4:00 PM. This session will formally welcome Chilean President José Antonio Kast, who is attending the Mercosur Summit of Heads of State as the leader of an associated state. The Senate will also maintain administrative activities, with its document reception desk remaining operational.

While the national holiday has altered some parliamentary schedules, institutional activities within the National Congress will continue in varying capacities. The celebration of Paraguay's World Cup achievement has taken precedence for the Chamber of Deputies, highlighting the significance of the sporting milestone for the nation.