In a dramatic turn of events at the 2026 World Cup, Paraguay knocked out Germany during their round of 32 clash at Boston's Gillette Stadium on Monday. After a tense 120 minutes that ended in a 1-1 draw, Paraguay triumphed 4-3 in the penalty shootout.
Although Germany dominated the match statistically—with 75% possession, 21 shots compared to Paraguay's seven, and 16 corners versus six for Paraguay—the South American team capitalized on key opportunities when it mattered most.
The match saw Julio Enciso score first for Paraguay in the 42nd minute. His header found the back of the net following a precise cross from Matías Galarza on the right, with Miguel Almirón also involved in the play.
Germany, however, leveled the score just 12 minutes into the second half. Kai Havertz's header, assisted by a pinpoint cross from Florian Wirtz, made it 1-1, a scoreline that held until the end of extra time.
Additional drama unfolded during overtime when the VAR disallowed a goal by Jonathan Tah in the 102nd minute due to a prior foul, denying Germany what could have been the winning goal.
The match ultimately hinged on the penalty shootout, where Germany's accuracy faltered. Havertz missed the first spot-kick, followed by Woltemade's miss. For Paraguay, only Antonio Sanabria failed to score, as Mauricio, Gustavo Gómez, and Galarza each converted their penalties confidently, sealing the 4-3 victory.
Though Kimmich and Musiala scored for Germany, their efforts weren't enough to prevent elimination.
Tensions ran high on the sidelines as well. Both head coaches, Gustavo Alfaro for Paraguay and Julian Nagelsmann for Germany, received yellow cards in the 105th minute, with Havertz and Musiala also cautioned later in the game.
This victory marks Paraguay's first advancement to the round of 16 since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where they reached the quarterfinals. Paraguay had qualified for this knockout stage as the best third-place team in Group D with four points, while Germany topped Group E with six points despite inconsistent performances.
Paraguay will now face the winner of the France vs. Sweden match in the next round, while Germany exits the tournament at the first knockout stage.
Key Questions About Paraguay's Victory Over Germany
How did Paraguay manage to defeat Germany despite being dominated statistically?
Paraguay capitalized on crucial opportunities and remained effective in key moments, which allowed them to secure a win in the penalty shootout despite Germany's statistical dominance.
What role did the VAR play in the match?
The VAR disallowed a goal by Germany's Jonathan Tah in the 102nd minute due to a prior foul, which could have otherwise secured Germany's advancement to the next round.
What were the key moments in the penalty shootout?
Paraguay's success in the penalty shootout was secured as Havertz and Woltemade missed their penalties for Germany, while Paraguay converted three out of four attempts, resulting in a 4-3 victory.