Paraguay Stuns Germany in FIFA World Cup 2026 Penalty Shootout

GOAL! José Canale

Paraguay hold their nerve and convert the decisive penalty to seal it!

They’re through to the last 16 after a dramatic shootout win over Germany. What a night in Boston, Germany bow out in one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far.

Jonathan Tah goes for power, but absolutely smashes his penalty high over the bar.

Paraguay are back within one kick of history, and Germany now need Manuel Neuer again to keep them alive.

Paraguay are one kick away from becoming the first side to beat Germany in a World Cup penalty shootout.

Nick Woltemade steps up for Germany, but it’s a poor effort, Orlando Gill dives left and parries it away comfortably.

Paraguay now stand on the brink of the last 16.

Jamal Musiala just about gets away with it.

Orlando Gill guesses correctly and gets a strong hand to the penalty, but there’s enough power behind it for the ball to creep into the corner. The shootout is level again at 2-2.

Leroy Sané whips in a dangerous cross that flicks off Canale’s head but drops safely into the hands of Gill. It’s been one-way traffic for long spells, but the scoreline still refuses to reflect it.

A reminder that the winners will face France or Sweden in the last 16.

Paraguay have named their starting XI in a defensive 5-4-1 formation for their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash against Germany.

Goalkeeper: Orlando Gill

Defenders: Juan José Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez, Júnior Alonso, José Canale, Roberto Fernández

Midfielders: Miguel Almirón, Damián Bobadilla, Andrés Cubas, Matías Galarza

Forwards: Julio Enciso, Gabriel Ávalos

Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro has made three key changes from their last group-stage match against Australia. Miguel Almirón returns to the starting XI after serving a suspension for a red card picked up against Turkey. Diego Gómez is suspended for this knockout fixture after accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage. Alfaro has also shifted the team from a 4-4-2 setup to a compact 5-4-1 defensive block for this knockout tie.

Germany have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Nathaniel Brown

Midfielders: Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlović

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers: Leroy Sané, Deniz Undav, Florian Wirtz

Striker: Kai Havertz

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has made two changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Ecuador, with Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav coming in for David Raum and Jamal Musiala.