Paraguay produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by eliminating Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash at Houston Stadium on Monday.
After 120 minutes failed to separate the two sides, Paraguay held their nerve in the penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to book a place in the Round of 16 and send four-time world champions Germany crashing out of the tournament.
The highs and lows of penalty shootouts ❤️💔 pic.twitter.com/we0WtCjhZh
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 29, 2026
Julio Enciso fired Paraguay into the lead in the 42nd minute, giving the South Americans a deserved advantage before halftime.
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) June 29, 2026
Germany responded early in the second half as Kai Havertz equalized in the 54th minute, setting up a tense contest that remained level through the remainder of regulation and extra time.
The match was ultimately decided from the penalty spot, where Paraguay converted all five of their spot-kicks, while Germany missed a crucial attempt, allowing La Albirroja to complete a memorable victory.
The defeat marked a disappointing end to Germany's campaign after they had topped Group E with victories over Curaçao and Ivory Coast before suffering a final group-stage defeat to Ecuador.
Despite the elimination, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reached a historic milestone by making his 23rd FIFA World Cup appearance, becoming Germany's all-time record holder for World Cup matches played, surpassing legends Lothar Matthäus and Miroslav Klose, who each made 22 appearances.
Paraguay's dramatic triumph secures their place in the Round of 16, while Germany become one of the tournament's biggest casualties in the first knockout round.
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