Paraguay pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating four-time champions Germany 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout on Monday after the match ended 1-1 following extra time.
Jose Canale converted the winning penalty to seal a famous victory for Paraguay, sending the South American nation into the Round of 16, where they will meet either France or Sweden.
The result marks one of the greatest victories in Paraguay's football history and ends Germany's World Cup campaign in heartbreaking fashion.
The penalty shootout was full of tension as Germany failed to capitalize on several opportunities. Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah all missed their spot kicks, leaving the door open for Paraguay.
Although Paraguay also missed two penalties during the shootout, Jose Canale kept his composure when it mattered most, calmly converting the decisive kick to spark emotional celebrations among his teammates and supporters.
For Germany, the defeat was historic for all the wrong reasons, marking the first time they have ever lost a penalty shootout at a FIFA World Cup.
After the match, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich refused to blame bad luck or the officials for the defeat.
"We should not be blaming the referee or the penalty shootout today," Kimmich said.
"If you cannot beat Paraguay over 120 minutes then you are deservedly eliminated. You should not depend on the opponents' luck or no luck. You should have the quality in the squad to clearly beat this opponent."
Paraguay's victory is their biggest achievement at the tournament since reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2010. The nation had not qualified for the competition again until this year's tournament, making the result even more remarkable.
Captain Gustavo Gomez admitted the emotions after the match were difficult to describe.
"I think the feeling we have is difficult to explain," Gomez said.
"I'm very proud of my teammates and of this group. Today was a match in which we had to be Paraguay more than ever."
He added that his team knew they had to make life as difficult as possible for the Germans.
"I think deep down Germany knew that if they wanted to beat us, they would have to sweat blood, because we were going to make defeat very, very expensive for them."
Germany entered the match as clear favorites and dominated possession from the opening whistle. Coach Julian Nagelsmann named an attacking lineup, handing tournament top scorer Deniz Undav his first start after the striker impressed during the group stage with three goals and two assists.
The Germans controlled the ball throughout the opening half but struggled to create meaningful chances. By the 35th minute, they had completed 244 passes compared to Paraguay's 31, yet failed to register a single shot on target.
Paraguay remained disciplined in defense and waited patiently for opportunities on the counterattack.
Their strategy paid off before halftime when Miguel Almiron, returning from suspension, helped launch a quick attack down the right wing. Julio Enciso finished the move with a powerful header to score Paraguay's first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match and give his side a shock lead.
The small group of Paraguay supporters erupted in celebration as the largely German crowd inside the stadium fell silent.
Germany responded after the break and found an equalizer nine minutes into the second half. Florian Wirtz delivered an accurate cross into the penalty area, where Kai Havertz guided a header into the net to make it 1-1.
Both teams continued to battle for a winner, and Germany believed they had completed the comeback in the 102nd minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner.
However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out because of a foul on Paraguay's goalkeeper, keeping the score level and extending the drama.
Neither side managed to score during the remainder of extra time, sending the contest to penalties, where Paraguay held their nerve to complete one of the tournament's biggest shocks.
The defeat leaves Germany facing more questions about their recent World Cup performances. After suffering group-stage eliminations in both 2018 and 2022, another early exit adds to the pressure on head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Following the match, the 38-year-old coach accepted responsibility for the disappointing result.
"I am disappointed. It was just not enough to beat this opponent," Nagelsmann said.
"The opponent scored once and we did not defend very well. We lost control of possession. We tried a lot of things but we should have scored earlier.
"If you are eliminated by Paraguay you are just not a first-class football team. I am very disappointed."
Paraguay will now look to continue their remarkable World Cup journey when they face either France or Sweden in the Round of 16, while Germany head home after another painful tournament exit.
