Foxborough, 29 June 2026. The Gillette Stadium played host to one of the most spectacular matches of this World Cup as Germany and Paraguay went toe to toe. After 120 goalless minutes of extra time – the score stood at 1–1 after normal time – the penalty shootout proved decisive. Paraguay converted four of seven attempts, Germany three of six. Final score: 4–5 to Paraguay. Group winners Germany are out; group third-place finishers Paraguay advance to the round of 16.
Enciso strikes against the run of play, Havertz equalises
Germany, fielded by head coach Julian Nagelsmann with a strike partnership of Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav, were largely dominant in the first half. Paraguay sat deep and waited for the counter-attack. In the 42nd minute, Julio Enciso struck: the 22-year-old striker, who has been playing for Racing Strasbourg in Ligue 1 since September 2025 following his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, headed home a cross from Matías Galarza to make it 0–1. The goal came against the run of play, and Paraguay led at half-time.
Germany responded after the break. Kai Havertz – the top scorer in the German World Cup squad with 24 international goals – headed in a cross from Florian Wirtz on the left to equalise at 1–1 in the 54th minute. Shortly afterwards, Enciso was substituted, with Maurício Magalhães Prado coming on as his replacement – a Brazilian-Paraguayan dual national whose switch to the Paraguayan national team had only been approved by FIFA on 9 February 2026. The match remained evenly poised. Yellow cards for Cubas (65th minute) and both teams during extra time – including one for Nagelsmann himself (106th minute) – reflected the tension on the pitch.
Penalty shootout: nine attempts, five goals, one winner
The penalty shootout unfolded in dramatic fashion on both sides. Havertz missed Germany's first attempt in the 121st minute. Moments later, Maurício Magalhães Prado converted to make it 1–2. Joshua Kimmich drew Germany level (2–2, 122nd minute). Paraguay captain Gustavo Gómez, with 89 caps to his name, restored his side's lead – 2–3 (122nd minute). Jamal Musiala converted to make it 3–3 (123rd minute), before Matías Galarza replied to put it at 3–4 (123rd minute). Germany substitute Woltemade then missed (124th minute), and Paraguay's Sanabria also failed to score (124th minute). Nadiem Amiri brought it back to 4–4 (125th minute), before Fabián Balbuena blazed over for Paraguay (125th minute). Jonathan Tah missed for Germany (126th minute) – and José Canale stepped up to slot home the decisive penalty for the final score of 4–5 (126th minute). Paraguay had won.
Historical context: a record for Neuer, a shock for Germany
For Manuel Neuer, this was his 23rd World Cup starting appearance – a new German record, moving him ahead of Miroslav Klose and Lothar Matthäus (22 each) and drawing him level internationally with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paolo Maldini. Despite this personal milestone, the tournament ends in bitter disappointment for him and the German squad. It was only the second World Cup meeting between the two nations – Germany had won 1–0 in the round of 16 in 2002. This time, Paraguay rewrote history. In the expanded 2026 World Cup format featuring 48 teams and 12 groups, the knockout rounds begin for the first time with a round of 32; Paraguay advance from that stage as group third-place finishers from Group D into the round of 16. Germany, meanwhile, are going home – knocked out by a side that had last appeared at a World Cup back in 2010.
