In short: Paraguay eliminated Germany from the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw and a 4-3 penalty shootout. Julio Enciso gave Paraguay the lead, Kai Havertz equalized, and Diego Canale scored the decisive penalty. Paraguay now face France in the Round of 16.
Germany 1-1 Paraguay: match recap
The match was played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup bracket. Germany arrived as the highest-scoring team of the group stage, while Paraguay had reached the knockouts as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Germany controlled the ball early, but Paraguay struck first in the 42nd minute. Julio Enciso headed in a cross from Galarza Fonda to make it 1-0 before halftime. Germany responded quickly after the break: Kai Havertz equalized in the 54th minute and the match slowly tilted toward the European side.
The defining moment came in extra time. Jonathan Tah headed in from a corner, but VAR ruled the goal out for a previous foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. That decision kept Paraguay alive and sent the match to penalties.
The penalty shootout: kick by kick
| # | Player | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kai Havertz | Germany | Saved |
| 2 | Mauricio | Paraguay | Goal |
| 3 | Joshua Kimmich | Germany | Goal |
| 4 | Gustavo Gomez | Paraguay | Goal |
| 5 | Jamal Musiala | Germany | Goal |
| 6 | Galarza Fonda | Paraguay | Goal |
| 7 | Nick Woltemade | Germany | Saved |
| 8 | Antonio Sanabria | Paraguay | Missed |
| 9 | Nadiem Amiri | Germany | Goal |
| 10 | Fabian Balbuena | Paraguay | Missed |
| 11 | Jonathan Tah | Germany | Missed, post |
| 12 | Diego Canale | Paraguay | Decisive goal |
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill gave Paraguay the platform by saving Havertz and Woltemade. After Tah hit the post, Canale stayed calm and converted the kick that sent Paraguay through 4-3.
Why this is a historic upset
Germany came into the match as a title candidate. They had scored 11 goals in the group stage, including a 7-1 win over Curacao, and looked like one of the most complete teams in the tournament. Losing to a Paraguay side that had qualified as a third-placed team changes the shape of the knockout bracket.
It also deepens Germany's World Cup knockout drought. Germany had not won a head-to-head World Cup knockout match since the 2014 final against Argentina. They went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, and this defeat means another tournament ends before the quarterfinals.
Paraguay's path to France
Paraguay reached the Round of 32 the hard way. They lost 4-1 to the United States, beat Turkey 1-0 and drew with Australia to finish third in Group D with 4 points. The expanded 48-team format gave them a route into the knockouts, and they took full advantage.
The reward is a Round of 16 match against France on July 4 at 17:00 ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It is one of the first confirmed Round of 16 matches, alongside Canada vs Morocco.
Round of 32 results so far
| Match | Result | Qualified |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa vs Canada | 0-1 | Canada |
| Germany vs Paraguay | 1-1 (3-4 pens) | Paraguay |
| Netherlands vs Morocco | 1-1 (2-3 pens) | Morocco |
| Brazil vs Japan | 2-1 | Brazil |
| France vs Sweden | 3-0 | France |
| Ivory Coast vs Norway | 1-2 | Norway |
| Mexico vs Ecuador | 2-0 | Mexico |
| England vs DR Congo | 2-1 | England |
What it means for the 2026 World Cup bracket
Germany's exit removes one of the strongest European teams from the bracket before the Round of 16. The same day, Morocco knocked out the Netherlands on penalties. Two major European sides fell in similar fashion: tense draws, extra time, then shootouts decided by small margins.
For Paraguay, the challenge now becomes even bigger. France are one of the favorites, led by Kylian Mbappe and an attack that has already produced big wins. But after surviving Germany on penalties, Paraguay have proof that they can handle pressure in a single-elimination match.
Follow the tournament
- 2026 World Cup bracket: all knockout matchups and the path to the final.
- World Cup 2026 results: scores, scorers and teams that advance.
- Paraguay team page: squad, fixtures and results.
- Germany team page: group record and World Cup history.
- Today's matches: live scores, kickoff times and where to watch.
Sources: major sports outlets for match details and the official FIFA tournament pages for schedule structure. Updated: July 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How did Paraguay eliminate Germany from the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay drew 1-1 with Germany after 120 minutes and won the penalty shootout 4-3. Julio Enciso scored for Paraguay in the 42nd minute and Kai Havertz equalized in the 54th.
Who missed the decisive penalties in Germany vs Paraguay?
Germany missed through Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah. Paraguay missed through Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena, but Diego Canale converted the decisive penalty.
Who do Paraguay play next at the 2026 World Cup?
Paraguay play France in the Round of 16 on July 4 at 17:00 ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Why is Germany being eliminated by Paraguay such a big upset?
Germany arrived as one of the tournament favorites and had been the highest-scoring team of the group stage. Paraguay had qualified as one of the eight best third-placed teams, which makes the penalty win one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 World Cup.
What other upset happened in the Round of 32?
On the same day, Morocco eliminated the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The two results reshaped the knockout bracket and removed two major European teams before the Round of 16.
Article by
Luis MoralesJournalist and founder of the blog
Luis Morales is a professional journalist who graduated from Universidad del Externado de Colombia and the founder of this World Cup 2026 blog. He has worked for over three years as a copywriter specialized in football and major sporting events. Every article combines journalistic rigor with verification against official FIFA sources to deliver clear, accurate and useful information for fans.
Journalist and content writer · Universidad del Externado de Colombia · 3+ years
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