Paraguay stun Germany 4-3 in penalty shootout in biggest upset of the World Cup
This is Germany’s first-ever defeat in a World Cup penalty shootout.
Paraguay’s Julio Enciso celebrates scoring the opener with teammate Gustavo Gomez at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Jun 29, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Peter Cziborra)
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FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts: Paraguay stunned Germany in a penalty shootout on Monday to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.
The South Americans won 4-3 on spot kicks after the match finished 1-1 in extra-time to inflict Germany’s first-ever defeat in a penalty shootout in a World Cup.
Jose Canale scored on the first sudden death penalty kick, while goalkeeper Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, as Paraguay pulled off the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far.
The round of 16 match had ended 1-1 after extra time.
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Paraguay went in front when Julio Enciso scored on a header late in the first half.
Kai Havertz equalized in the 52nd minute for four-time champions Germany.
Paraguay will next face the winner of Tuesday’s match between France and Sweden on Jul 4 in the round of 16 in Philadelphia.
A win in that match would land them back in Foxborough for a quarter-final match on July 9.
Germany had won six of seven penalty shootouts in major tournaments, including six straight since losing to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final.
In the only previous World Cup match between the teams, Germany beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 at the 2002 tournament.
Nearly a quarter-century later, Paraguay has its revenge.
Paraguay had appeared in five previous knockout games but failed to score in each. It advanced only once in those previous occasions, winning on penalty kicks against Japan in the round of 16 at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
It fell that year to eventual champion Spain in the quarterfinals.
Monday was Germany’s first knockout game since the 2014 final in Brazil when the Germans beat Argentina 1-0 to capture their fourth World Cup title.
Germany appeared to take a 2-1 lead in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner kick by Nathaniel Brown that was just above the reach of Gill.
But a video review ruled that Waldemar Anton pushed Gill to the ground before the shot and the goal was disallowed.
Anton headed straight at Gill from another corner, but Paraguay withstood Germany’s set-piece barrage and then kept their cool to spring a monumental World Cup shock.
Subscribe to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and catch all 104 matches live on mewatch. Visit mewatch.sg/fifaworldcup for more details.
Source: Reuters
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