Germany Stunned as Paraguay Win 4-3 on Penalties in Massive Round of 32 Upset
Paraguay pulled off the biggest shock of the 2026 World Cup so far, eliminating four-time champions Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Boston Stadium .
Germany Stunned as Paraguay Win 4-3 on Penalties in Massive Round of 32 Upset
Germany entered the match as heavy favorites, with bookmakers pricing them at -700 to qualify and Paraguay at +480. But Gustavo Alfaro's men showed no fear on the biggest stage, producing a disciplined display that frustrated Julian Nagelsmann's side throughout. The South Americans stunned the Germans just before half-time when Julio Enciso rose highest to head home from a perfectly delivered cross in the 42nd minute, marking the first goal Paraguay had scored in five previous knockout appearances.
The goal sent their fans into raptures and gave the underdogs a lead they defended with everything they had. Germany, who had won six of their last seven penalty shootouts in major tournaments, were expected to respond with authority. The response came in the 55th minute when Kai Havertz produced a clever header from Florian Wirtz's cross to bring Germany level.
The four-time champions pushed relentlessly for a winner, dominating possession with 65% and attempting 21 shots to Paraguay's 7, but Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill was in inspired form, making key saves to keep his side in the game.
Havertz, who had been underwhelming alongside Wirtz and Jamal Musiala during the group stage, insisted before the match that the trio were close to clicking, but they failed to find the cutting edge when it mattered most . Germany thought they had scored a winner in extra time when Jonathan Tah headed in from a corner, but VAR ruled it out for a foul on Gill in the build-up.
The match went to penalties, and the drama intensified with every kick in a shootout that will be remembered for years. Havertz, Woltermade, and Tah all missed for Germany, while Sanabria and Balbuena missed for Paraguay.
Jose Canale stepped up to score the winning penalty, sending Paraguay through to the round of 16 for the first time since 2010. The defeat is Germany's earliest exit from a World Cup since 2018, and it marked their first knockout game since winning the 2014 World Cup final, ending a twelve-year wait for a knockout victory with a devastating result.
Nagelsmann had insisted before the match that Germany's aim was always to win every game, but they fell short against a determined Paraguay side that had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Source: TrendyBeatz
