President Santiago Peña still has three additional holidays he can declare in 2026, according to Law No. 7544, enacted last year, which allows the Executive Branch to set up to three extra national holidays per year to promote tourism, the economy, or celebrate special occasions. In 2025, the president had already used two of these slots: one on September 5, following the Albirroja's qualification for the 2026 World Cup—after 16 years of absence—and another on December 26, to extend the year-end holiday period.
With Paraguay's victory over Turkey in the World Cup, the team is one step away from qualifying for the round of 16, reigniting expectations of a possible new holiday. The match against Australia is scheduled for Thursday, starting at 11 p.m., and is expected to end in the early hours of Friday the 26th. When asked by journalists after a commemorative event marking the 1992 National Constitution Oath held at the National Archive, Peña practically ruled out the possibility.
"This Thursday is really a big unknown. The match will start at eleven at night, which means it will end on Friday. Of course, it would be a great celebration, and I'm sure many of us will be celebrating into the early morning, we'll get little sleep, but to be very honest, I don't think it's possible to declare a holiday on that day," the president said.
Peña emphasized that he intends to consider declaring holidays as the Albirroja advances in the competition, but noted that the logistical difficulty of a match extending into the early morning makes it unfeasible for Friday. "I believe Paraguay will qualify for the round of 16 and will win that match, and will play in the quarterfinals. Then, who knows. That's exactly why it was created, so that citizens, compatriots, can celebrate. We've really been lucky that the last two good matches were late on Fridays. But Friday no, Friday no. I think it will be very complicated, honestly," he insisted.
The president stated that his decision is not influenced by pressure from the business sector, which opposed the holidays declared due to the team's qualification last year, and that he seeks balance in his decisions. The law does not specify which situations qualify as "special occasions," leaving broad discretion to the Executive, but so far football has been the only reason used.
During the same event at the National Archive, Peña was also asked about a possible constitutional reform. He stressed that the initiative for constitutional changes lies with the legislature, not the executive, and said that after nearly three years in office, there has been no mention of the topic. "As the Constitution states, I will assume my position as a lifetime senator. I would love to be able to contribute in that very important role that Parliament has," he said, although he omitted that former presidents Juan Carlos Wasmosy and Mario Abdo Benítez are also lifetime senators by constitutional mandate.