Paraguay knock Germany out on penalties (1-1, 4-3) to spring the round-of-32 shock
Enciso put Paraguay ahead, Havertz levelled for Germany and the Albirroja won the shootout 4-3 — Canale converting the decisive kick — to spring the 2026 World Cup's big shock in Foxborough.
Paraguay sprang the round-of-32 shock by knocking Germany out on penalties (1-1, 4-3) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, one of the 2026 World Cup venues in the northeastern United States. The home of the New England Patriots, holding 64,146 spectators and recognisable for its lighthouse tower, staged a dramatic tie that stretched across 120 minutes and was settled from the spot, sending the Albirroja into the last 16 of this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The upset began to take shape before half-time. In the 42nd minute, Julio Enciso finished from a Mathías Galarza pass to put Paraguay ahead and silence a Germany side that started as clear favourites. Gustavo Alfaro's team, set up in a 4-4-2, dropped deep with discipline to protect their lead against German pressure.
The German response came after the restart. In the 54th minute, Kai Havertz levelled from a Florian Wirtz pass — Wirtz later named man of the match — to revive Julian Nagelsmann's side, also lined up in a 4-4-2. The 1-1 held through the rest of normal time and a fraught extra time, in which the tension spread even to the dugouts: bookings went to Cubas (65') and Galarza (117') for Paraguay and Havertz (106') and Musiala (115') for Germany, plus both coaches, Alfaro and Nagelsmann.
With no goals across the 120 minutes, everything came down to a nerve-shredding shootout. Paraguay prevailed 4-3: Mauricio, Gustavo Gómez, Galarza and Junior Canale — who struck the decisive kick — all scored, while Germany, on target through Kimmich, Musiala and Amiri, fell apart as Havertz, Woltemade and Tah missed. The Albirroja held firm where they had buckled before and produced one of the great feats of their recent history.
Germany, one of the title contenders, leave the 2026 World Cup in as painful as it is premature a fashion, unable to break down a brave, organised Paraguay despite their control of the game. With this heroic qualification, the Albirroja advance to the round of 16 of a single-elimination phase in which courage and accuracy from twelve yards earned a historic ticket.