Paraguay Shock Germany on Penalties to Reach World Cup Round of 16

• Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the World Cup round of 16.
• Orlando Gill starred in the shootout as Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all missed from the spot.
• Paraguay will face either France or Sweden after producing one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.

Germany’s World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion on Monday after Paraguay knocked the four-time champions out on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Orlando Gill emerged as Paraguay’s hero, producing a series of crucial saves before José Canale converted the decisive penalty in sudden death to send the South Americans into the next round and eliminate one of the tournament favourites.

The result made Germany the first traditional powerhouse to exit the expanded 2026 World Cup in the round of 32, continuing a difficult period for a nation that has now failed to make a deep run since lifting the trophy in 2014.

Paraguay had taken the lead shortly before halftime through Julio Enciso before Kai Havertz restored parity early in the second half. Germany thought they had found the winner during extra time, only for Jonathan Tah’s header to be ruled out following a VAR review.

The match was eventually decided from the penalty spot, where Germany’s composure deserted them.

Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Tah all failed to convert, while Paraguay survived misses from Antonio Sanabria and Fabián Balbuena before Canale sealed a famous victory.

“We had to analyze every player, every detail,” goalkeeper Gill said after the match.

“Thanks to that I was able to only miss two penalties. This is for all the people of Paraguay.”

Canale said the victory reflected the character within the squad.

“I think we deserved one more game, and to be honest considering everything that was said, everything we went through,” he said.

“What I want to highlight from our team is how united we are. Today was a game we really needed to show our true colors.”

Germany entered the tournament with ambitions of challenging for a fifth World Cup title but leave after another disappointing campaign.

The defeat marked the first time Germany have ever lost a penalty shootout at a FIFA World Cup. Before Monday, they had won six of their previous seven shootouts in major international tournaments and had never been beaten from the spot on football’s biggest stage.

The result also gave Paraguay long-awaited revenge after losing 1-0 to Germany in the round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup.

For Paraguay, it represents another landmark moment after years of frustration in knockout football. They had failed to score in each of their previous five World Cup knockout matches and had advanced only once, defeating Japan on penalties in the round of 16 in 2010 before losing narrowly to eventual champions Spain in the quarterfinals.

Germany controlled much of the contest, dominating possession throughout the opening half, but Paraguay struck first three minutes before the interval.

Miguel Almirón delivered a hopeful cross into the penalty area and Enciso rose to head beyond Manuel Neuer despite Germany enjoying almost 80 percent possession before the break.

The equaliser arrived nine minutes into the second half.

Florian Wirtz delivered a dangerous cross into the six-yard box and Havertz glanced a header beyond Gill to level the scores.

Germany pushed relentlessly for a winner, creating several opportunities during extra time.

Tah believed he had put his side ahead with a powerful header, only for VAR to identify a foul on Gill by Waldemar Anton during the build-up.

Gill then produced outstanding saves to deny Havertz and Anton as Paraguay held firm until penalties.

Germany briefly regained hope after Neuer saved Balbuena’s effort following Sanabria’s earlier miss, but Tah blasted his penalty over the crossbar before Canale calmly converted the decisive kick.

“We had very big plans for this World Cup,” Havertz said.

“It’s very difficult to disappoint again. It was difficult to create chances and keep the pace.”

Paraguay will now face either France or Sweden in the round of 16 in Philadelphia on July 4, while Germany return home far earlier than expected after another disappointing World Cup campaign.