Paraguay Upsets Germany in the Penalty Kick Shootout

By Daniel Feuerstein | Foxborough, MA | June 29th, 2026

In the first big upset in the 2026 FIFA World Cup it was the mighty powerhouse of Germany taking on Paraguay in the Round of 32 match. While the four time World Cup Champions had a strong group stage, Paraguay had plenty of questions asking toward them after a loss to the USA, edging Turkiye and a scoreless draw against Australia. But they turned it up at the right time as they took the Germans to the distance and forced them into a penalty kick shootout for a big win. Paraguay took the spils as they earned a four to three shootout win after a one goal draw through regulation and extra time.

Paraguay takes the lead late in the first half

After the corner was cleared by Germany, they tried to move the ball up, but it was intercepted by Paraguay. Miguel Almiron quickly got the ball and found Matias Galarza making a run down the near side touchline. As Galarza reached the endline, he made the cross toward the middle of the area; rushing in out of nowhere was Julio Enciso, as he quickly put his head down and found a way to score the opening goal, beating Manuel Neuer toward the far post as he never moved off his line to make the save. Paraguay was up a goal late in the first half, in the 42nd minute.

Germany scored an equalizer early in the second half

Germany was putting pressure on Paraguay to get this match leveled at one. They started well in the second half until the moment arrived. Florian Wirtz retrieved the ball toward the far side of the pitch and close to the touchline. As he corralled the ball, he made a long cross toward the front post, and making the run was Kai Havertz. All Havertz did was get into a fantastic position and put his head on the ball to beat the keeper and score the equalizer in the 54th minute.

Germany scores, but VAR removes the goal

Germany pushed for the go-ahead goal and earned a corner along the near side. As the ball was delivered, it was crossed across everyone inside the area, but waiting for it was Jonathan Tah as he lept high in the air and with a power header, scored the potential winner, but VAR was on the case and saw an infraction. Waldemar Anton was within the vicinity of Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill. There was some interference from Anton and knocked down Gill slightly, then Gill tried to play the shot by tah and went through his hands. The referee announced to the crowd the goal was wiped out for a foul and the match remained level at one in the 104th minute.

Paraguay Takes it in six rounds of the shootout

It all came down in the shootout as Paraguay knocked off Germany in the opening round. As Germany went first and it would be the reliable Kai Havertz to take the first kick. As he took his penalty with confidence it was Gill who made the biggest save of his career diving to his left and preventing Germany to take the opening lead in the shootout and did it again to Nick Wolemade in the fourth position and Jonathan Tah in the sixth position of the shootout. And from that point on everyone on Paraguay took their spot kicks and converted, with the exception of Fabian Balbuena and Antonio Sanabria.

Paraguay had Mauricio, Gustavo Gomez, Matias Galarza and the winning penalty kick taker Jose Canale finished it off in the sixth position and headed to the round of 16. For the Germans this was the first loss of a penalty kick shootout in the World Cup and it came in the new Round of 32. Now Paraguay will wait for the winner of France or Sweden to face them in the Round of 16.

Paraguay pulls an upset in the penalty kick shootout over Germany in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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