Paraguay produced one of the biggest upsets of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by defeating four-time champions Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout after the teams finished level at 1-1 following 120 minutes of football.
The victory sends Gustavo Alfaro’s side into the Round of 16, where Paraguay will face the winner of the France-Sweden encounter in Philadelphia on July 4.
Defensive Display Frustrates German Attack
Germany controlled possession for much of the contest but struggled to break down a disciplined Paraguayan defense that remained organized throughout regulation and extra time.
Led by goalkeeper Orlando Gill and a resilient back line, Paraguay repeatedly denied Germany’s attacking trio of Leroy Sané, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz despite sustained pressure from Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
Enciso Gives Paraguay Surprise First-Half Lead
Paraguay capitalized on one of its limited attacking opportunities just before halftime to stun the German supporters.
After Manuel Neuer punched away an initial corner, Paraguay quickly recycled possession. Matías Galarza delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, where Julio Enciso found space to power a header into the net in the 42nd minute and give La Albirroja a 1-0 advantage.
Havertz Restores Parity After the Break
Germany responded strongly after halftime and found the equalizer within minutes of the restart.
Florian Wirtz supplied an inviting cross from the left flank, allowing Kai Havertz to head home in the 54th minute and bring the four-time world champions back into the match.
Germany continued to dominate possession for the remainder of normal time, while Paraguay dropped deeper and focused on protecting its defensive shape in search of a counterattack that never materialized.
Germany Denied Late Winner
As the match approached its conclusion, Nagelsmann introduced additional attacking players in an effort to avoid a penalty shootout.
Germany briefly believed it had found the winning goal through Jonathan Tah, but celebrations were cut short after the referee ruled out the effort because of a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the buildup.
With neither side able to find another breakthrough in extra time, the contest moved to penalties.
Orlando Gill Inspires Shootout Triumph
Germany elected to take the opening penalty in front of its home support, but Paraguay immediately gained the advantage when Gill saved Kai Havertz’s spot kick.
The shootout featured several missed opportunities from both teams before José Canales calmly converted the decisive penalty, securing a 4-3 victory in the shootout and sparking jubilant celebrations among the Paraguayan players and supporters.
Historic Result Keeps Paraguay’s World Cup Dream Alive
The triumph marks one of Paraguay’s most memorable victories on the World Cup stage, eliminating one of international football’s traditional powerhouses while extending the South American nation’s tournament campaign.
For Germany, the defeat brings an unexpected end to its World Cup journey despite controlling large portions of the match. Paraguay, meanwhile, advances with renewed confidence as it prepares for a Round of 16 showdown against either France or Sweden.
