Paraguay Eliminates Germany on Penalty Kicks, Final Match Stats, Highlights & World Cup 2026 Bracket

Paraguay stunned Germany with a 4-3 victory on penalties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, handing the European giants their first-ever loss via a shootout at the tournament.

The South Americans progressed to the Round of 16 after Jose Canale's winning strike, having previously missed two others to seal the win.

The shootout was a dramatic end to a slow Round of 32 match that ended 1-1 after extra time, which saw Julio Enciso's opener matched by Kai Havertz's goal in the second half.

Match Stats

	Shots	Shots on Target	Possession
Germany	21	7	75%
Paraguay	7	4	25%

Paraguay wasted a huge chance in the first minute, as Manuel Neuer stood up well to Junior Alonso's tame effort after he had time to control the ball in the box.

It was all Germany for the next 40 minutes, with Paraguay staying deep and barely getting into the opposition's half. While Germany dominated possession with 78% of the ball in the first half, they did very little with it, registering just one shot on target.

Despite the Europeans taking control, it was Paraguay who managed to take a shock lead.

Some brilliant work from Miguel Almiron and Matias Galarza opened up a crossing opportunity, catching Germany out from a short corner. Star player Julio Enciso was in an ocean of space and finished his header under zero pressure.

It didn't take Germany long to level the scoreline after halftime. Julian Nagelsmann's team put more of an emphasis on crossing the ball after playing too many aimless passes earlier in the game.

Florian Wirtz's in-swinger found Kai Havertz for his third goal of the tournament with just seven minutes played in the second half.

The bad news quickly got worse for Paraguay, with Enciso picking up an injury that forced him off before the hour.

Wirtz nearly turned provider for Havertz once more in the 77th minute, but his header was tame and straight at Orlando Gill, who palmed away.

Germany continued to probe in normal time. Like most of the match, their general play was too slow to seriously trouble a Paraguay defence that stood resolute heading into extra time.

Paraguay's ambition heading into the extra half an hour was perhaps best summed up by subbing on defender Gustavo Velazquez for Almiron, whose ball carrying and energy provided plenty of respite during normal time.

Germany thought they had taken the lead with 12 minutes played in extra time. Nathaniel Brown's deep corner gave Jonathan Tah plenty of space to power his header beyond Gill, but drama would ensue.

VAR pulled the decision back and ruled the goal out after Waldermar Anton's alleged foul on the Paraguayan goalkeeper.

Anton then had a huge chance with just over a minute left on the clock.

His close-range header landed straight into Gill's clutches, as the match turned nasty with multiple yellow cards dished out. Jamal Musiala may have been lucky to remain on the pitch after his frustrated tackle on Galarza.

And so, it came down to penalties for the first time in this year's competition. Havertz stepped up first for Germany, but Gill read his effort and threw up a big hand to halt the Arsenal star. Mauricio scored Paraguay's first to go ahead.

The experienced Joshua Kimmich then cooly slotted home for Germany, before Gustavo Gomez restored Paraguay's lead. Musiala followed up by just squeezing his effort beyond Gill. Galarza responded by sliding beyond Neuer for 3-2.

Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade then saw his tame shot saved by Gill, giving Antonio Sanabria the chance to win it. He spectacularly blazed wide.

Nadiem Amiri levelled it, before the experienced Fabian Balbuena had Paraguay's second chance to win it.

Balbuena's penalty was saved by Neuer, making it 3-3 after five penalties each heading into sudden death. Paraguay then had an unprecendented third chance to send Germany home after Tah smashed over the bar.

Canale proved to be the man for the big moment, powering his penalty home beyond a helpless Neuer.

Paraguay advance to face the winner of France or Sweden in the next round. Les Bleus are heavy favourites in that match, and to go all the way in the competition, so plenty more of the heroic defending may be needed.