Paraguay produced the biggest shock of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, eliminating four time champion Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw through extra time to advance to the Round of 16.
Defender Jose Canale converted the decisive penalty in sudden death after goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two crucial saves during the shootout, sealing a 4-3 victory on penalties for the South American side.
The result marked Paraguay’s first World Cup knockout victory since the 2010 tournament and ended Germany’s hopes of reclaiming the title for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2014.
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay the lead late in the first half before Kai Havertz equalized early in the second half for Germany. Neither side managed to score during extra time despite several clear opportunities.
“We analyzed every player and every detail,” Gill said after the victory. “Because of that preparation, I only failed to stop two penalties. This is for all the people of Paraguay.”
Ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings, Paraguay entered the match as one of the tournament’s biggest underdogs against 12th ranked Germany, a nation that has won four World Cup titles.
Paraguay will face the winner of Tuesday’s Round of 32 match between France and Sweden in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Philadelphia. Victory there would send the team to the quarterfinals.
“I think we deserved another match after everything we have been through,” Canale said. “The most important thing about this team is how united we are. Today we showed our true character.”
Germany had entered the match with one of football’s strongest penalty shootout records, having won six of its previous seven shootouts in major international tournaments and never before losing a World Cup shootout.
Instead, the Germans became the first traditional football powerhouse to be eliminated in the expanded tournament’s Round of 32.
Paraguay struck first in the 42nd minute with a swift attacking move that caught Germany’s defense off balance.
Miguel Almiron threaded a pass between two defenders to Matias Galarza, whose cross found an unmarked Enciso. The forward headed the ball past veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to give Paraguay a surprise halftime advantage.
Germany responded quickly after the restart.
Florian Wirtz delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, where Havertz glanced a header beyond Gill in the 52nd minute to level the match.
Germany dominated possession throughout much of the contest, controlling 78 percent of the ball during the opening half, but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities against Paraguay’s disciplined defensive formation.
The Germans believed they had completed the comeback during extra time when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner in the 102nd minute.
However, a Video Assistant Referee review ruled out the goal after officials determined that Waldemar Anton had fouled Gill before the header crossed the line.
Gill continued to frustrate Germany with a series of outstanding saves, including a late stop from Anton and another acrobatic save to deny Havertz as the match headed to penalties.
The shootout delivered even more drama.
Germany appeared on the verge of elimination after Havertz and Nick Woltemade failed to convert their attempts. Paraguay then missed two opportunities to secure victory when Antonio Sanabria failed to score and Neuer saved Fabian Balbuena’s effort.
The momentum shifted again when Tah blasted Germany’s final penalty over the crossbar, allowing Canale to calmly convert the winning kick and spark celebrations among the Paraguayan players and supporters.
For Germany, the defeat extended a difficult period in World Cup competition. After winning the title in 2014, the team failed to advance beyond the group stage in the next two tournaments before suffering another disappointing early exit.
“We had very big plans for this World Cup,” Havertz said. “It is very difficult to disappoint again. We struggled to create chances and maintain our rhythm.”
Paraguay, meanwhile, celebrated one of the greatest victories in the nation’s football history. The South Americans had failed to score in each of their previous five World Cup knockout matches and had advanced only once before, defeating Japan on penalties in the Round of 16 in 2010 before losing to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals.
Monday’s victory also avenged Paraguay’s 1-0 defeat to Germany in the Round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup, ending nearly a quarter century of frustration against the European power.
The result reinforces one of the defining themes of the expanded 2026 World Cup, where emerging football nations have narrowed the competitive gap with traditional giants. Paraguay’s disciplined defending, tactical organization and composure under pressure demonstrated that tournament success is no longer determined solely by history or world rankings. The upset also serves as a reminder that knockout football often rewards resilience and efficiency over possession and attacking dominance.
What we know so far
Paraguay defeated Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the teams finished level at 1-1 following extra time. Julio Enciso scored for Paraguay, Kai Havertz equalized for Germany, and Jose Canale converted the winning penalty after goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two decisive saves.
What authorities are saying
Paraguay players credited detailed preparation and team unity for the historic victory. Germany players acknowledged their disappointment after another early World Cup exit, with Havertz admitting his side struggled to create enough scoring opportunities.
Why this matters
The victory represents Paraguay’s biggest World Cup triumph in more than a decade and eliminates one of football’s most successful nations. It also highlights the growing competitiveness of the expanded tournament, where traditional powers face increasingly difficult paths through the knockout rounds.
What happens next
Paraguay advances to the Round of 16, where it will face the winner of France against Sweden in Philadelphia. Germany exits the tournament, prompting renewed questions about the future direction of one of international football’s most decorated national teams.
Paraguay’s victory was built on tactical discipline rather than sustained attacking pressure. Despite controlling possession for long periods, Germany struggled to break down a compact defensive structure and paid the price for missed opportunities in front of goal. Orlando Gill’s performance may prove to be one of the defining goalkeeping displays of the tournament, while Germany’s third consecutive disappointing World Cup campaign is likely to intensify scrutiny of its player development, tactical approach and ability to perform under knockout pressure.
Story sources: The Associated Press and ESPN