Paraguay have knocked out four-time world champions,Germany out of the World Cup on Monday with a 4-3 penalty shootout win after the two sides were deadlocked 1-1 in their Round of 32 match.
- Paraguay’s Jose Canale scored the decisive spot kick
- Germany’s Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah all failed in the shootout
- Julio Enciso opened the scoring for Paraguay when he headed in a cross by Matias Galarza in the 42nd minute
- Kai Havertz drew Germany level nine minutes into the second half with a glanced header from a Florian Wirtz cross
Germany dominated the tempo with 75% possession and 21 shots, but Paraguay’s resolute defense frustrated them through extra time.
A stunning Julio Enciso header in the 42nd minute marked Paraguay’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage match; the 22-year-old forward connected beautifully with a flat cross from Matías Galarza to open the scoring in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.
Julio Enciso’s first-half header was canceled out by a Kai Havertz equalizer in the 54th minute, connecting with a header to tie the game at 1-1. Germany believed they had secured the winning goal, but a VAR review disallowed it after spotting a foul by Leroy Sané during the buildup.
After 120 minutes of relentless German attacking and defiant Paraguayan defending, the fixture progressed to penalties. Havertz, who was pivotal during regulation time, sent a penalty attempt wide, opening the door for a resilient Paraguay squad. Keeping their nerve, Paraguay clinically converted their chances to claim a 3-2 shootout victory.
Paraguay will face either France or Sweden in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia on July 4
IN PICTURES: Paraguay advance to the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout bracket
FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockouts by SABC Digital News
