Germany 1-1 Paraguay (4-3 pens): Paraguay Stun the Four-Time Champions to Reach the Last 16

Paraguay are into the World Cup round of 16 — and Germany are going home. In the biggest upset of the knockout stage so far, Paraguay beat four-time world champions Germany 4-3 on penalties at Gillette Stadium near Boston, after the Round of 32 tie finished 1-1 through 90 minutes and extra time.

The result sends the South Americans into the last 16 for the first time since 2010 and knocks out one of the pre-tournament favourites at the first elimination hurdle. Germany, winners of Group E, were beaten by a side that needed the best-third-placed safety net just to reach the knockouts.

How the match unfolded

For an hour the favourites looked in control of the chances without breaking through. The deadlock finally cracked just after the hour mark, and it was Germany who struck first: in the 54th minute, Kai Havertz finished off a move worked by Florian Wirtz to put the four-time champions in front.

The lead lasted barely three minutes. In the 57th minute, Julio Enciso answered for Paraguay, levelling the tie and silencing the German support. From there neither side could find a winner — Germany pressed for a decisive second, Paraguay defended deep and broke when they could, and the contest went the distance.

Extra time settles nothing

Thirty minutes of extra time produced plenty of tension but no goals, leaving the tie to be decided from the penalty spot — the cruellest route out of a World Cup, and one Germany have historically owned. This time the spot-kicks went the other way. Paraguay held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3, sparking wild scenes on the South American bench and ending Germany’s tournament at the Round of 32.

What it means

For Germany, it is a grim early exit that echoes their group-stage failures in 2018 and 2022 — a third straight World Cup that ends in disappointment, this time at the first knockout game rather than before it. The four-time champions will face hard questions about a campaign that promised more after they topped Group E.

For Paraguay, it is a landmark night. Having scraped into the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams — behind the United States and Australia in Group D — they have now eliminated a heavyweight and booked a place in the round of 16, matching their best World Cup run since the 2010 quarter-final in South Africa.

Paraguay now wait to learn their last-16 opponent as the rest of the Round of 32 plays out. Germany, meanwhile, are out.

Result and goalscorers confirmed via FOX Sports and FIFA match coverage, June 29, 2026.