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Paraguay secured a significant upset in the 2026 World Cup, defeating Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout on Monday. The match, held in Foxborough, Massachusetts, concluded 1-1 after extra time in the Round of 32. This victory marks a historic moment for the South American nation, as they became the first team to beat Germany in a World Cup penalty shootout.
José Canale, making his first start of the tournament, scored the decisive sudden-death penalty kick. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill played a crucial role, making two key saves during the shootout. The triumph was met with widespread celebration in Paraguay, with fans in Asunción taking to the streets to express their joy.
Match Details and Key Moments
The game saw Paraguay take the lead in the 42nd minute when Julio Enciso scored with a header. The goal came after a well-executed play, with Miguel Almiron delivering a pass to Matias Galarza, who then crossed to an unmarked Enciso. Germany, a four-time champion, equalized in the 52nd minute through Kai Havertz, who redirected a cross from Florian Wirtz past Gill.
During extra time, Germany appeared to score a go-ahead goal in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner kick. However, after a video review, the goal was disallowed because officials determined that Waldemar Anton had pushed Gill to the ground before the shot. This decision kept the score at 1-1, leading to the dramatic penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Germany missed three of their six penalty attempts. Jonathan Tah‘s shot went high over the crossbar in the first sudden-death round, setting the stage for Canale‘s winning kick. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had previously saved Fabian Balbuena‘s attempt, which could have secured the win for Paraguay earlier in the shootout.
Historical Context and Future Prospects
This upset is particularly notable given Germany‘s strong record in penalty shootouts, having won six of seven in major tournaments, including six consecutive wins since their loss to Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final. For Paraguay, this victory avenges their 1-0 loss to Germany in the Round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup, the only previous World Cup encounter between the two teams.
Paraguay entered the match as a significant underdog, with reports indicating they were ranked 41st by FIFA, while Germany was ranked 10th by one report and 12th by another. This makes Paraguay the deepest betting long shot to win a match in this World Cup so far. Coach Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged the disappointment for German football, stating, “It’s not enough for German football.”
Paraguay‘s journey to the knockout stage involved a 4-1 loss to the United States, a 1-0 win against Turkey, and a scoreless draw against Australia, allowing them to advance as the third-place finisher from Group D. Defender Omar Alderete was absent from the match due to an injury sustained in the game against Australia, with Canale starting in his place.
The team will now advance to the Round of 16, where they are scheduled to face the winner of Tuesday’s match between France and Sweden. This upcoming game will take place on Saturday in Philadelphia. A victory in that match would see Paraguay return to Foxborough for a quarter-final match on July 9.
Germany‘s exit marks another challenging World Cup campaign for the team, which was eliminated in the group stage at the previous two tournaments. Havertz reflected on the team’s performance, noting the difficulty in creating chances and maintaining pace. Paraguay‘s defensive 4-5-1 setup proved challenging for Germany, despite their high possession rate in the first half.
Orlando Gill expressed his pride in the team’s preparation, stating, “We had to analyze every player, every detail. Thanks to that I was able to only miss two penalties.”
Canale also emphasized the team’s unity, saying, “What I want to highlight from our team is how united we are.”
The victory was a significant moment for Paraguay, a country of 7 million people, surrounded by football powerhouses like Argentina and Brazil. Their advancement to the Round of 16 marks a notable achievement in the tournament.
Source: tsn.ca
