Germany lose on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in their FIFA World Cup 2026 last-32 match.
Germany’s World Cup 2026 campaign is over after a shock defeat – arguably the competition’s greatest – by Paraguay in the round of 32.
The Germans trailed 1-0 at half-time to Julio Enciso’s 42nd minute header.
It was a limp display by the four-time winners in the first period, but they drew level in the second half when Kai Havertz scored eight minutes after the restart.
Germany had a goal thereafter from a corner ruled out after a VAR review for a foul on Paraguay’s keeper, but with no further goal added the game went to spot kicks after extra time.
Havertz, who helped Arsenal end a 22-year wait to win the English Premier League title this season, missed the opening kick of shootout.
Germany were ranked number 10 in world by the game’s governing body FIFA entering the tournament, while Paraguay were ranked 41st.
The defeats is arguably the greatest upset in World Cup knockout football, surpassing another German defeat at USA 1994, when a Hristo Stoichkov-inspired Bulgaria knocked out the defending champions in the quarterfinals.
Stoichkov, then a Barcelona player, had been named Ballon d’Or winner for 1994, while Bulgaria were ranked 29 in the world at the time.
It was the Germans first defeat on penalties at a World Cup, and they have now failed to reach the last-16 since they last won the competition in 2010.
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