Paraguay Eliminates Germany on Penalties to Reach World Cup Round of 16

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Paraguay national football team pulled off a historic upset by defeating Germany in their Round of 32 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match, held in Boston, Massachusetts, saw the South American side advance after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Regular and extra time failed to produce a winner, ending in a 1-1 stalemate. Paraguay broke the deadlock late in the first half when forward Julio Enciso scored with a well-placed header in the 42nd minute. The German team responded in the second half, drawing level through a clinical header from Kai Havertz in the 54th minute. During the first period of extra time, in the 102nd minute, Germany found the back of the net again, but the goal was disallowed by the referee following a video assistant referee (VAR) review for a foul on the Paraguayan goalkeeper. Ultimately, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Paraguay proved more precise, clinching a 4-3 victory.

Enciso's first-half strike marked a historic milestone, becoming Paraguay's first-ever goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup. Paraguayan defender Juan Cáceres played the entirety of the demanding match without being substituted. On the other side, German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer conceded a goal for the tenth consecutive World Cup match, equaling an unwanted tournament record.

During the tournament's group stage, Germany had topped Group E, while Paraguay secured their spot in the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams from Group D. With this landmark victory, Paraguay advances to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of the upcoming match between France and Sweden. The South American squad's next tournament fixture is scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The global football showpiece is being co-hosted across stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the tournament set to conclude on July 19. The reigning world champions are Argentina.