Germany defeated Paraguay in World Cup shootout

Germany Falls Short in FIFA World Cup 2026 Last-32 Match

In a surprising turn of events, Germany’s World Cup 2026 campaign came to an end after a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay in the round of 32. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Julio Enciso scoring for Paraguay in the first half and Kai Havertz equalizing for Germany in the second half.

The game saw a sluggish start from Germany, who trailed 1-0 at halftime. However, they drew level in the second half, with Havertz scoring an eight-minute header from Florian Wirtz’s cross. Despite having several scoring opportunities, Germany was unable to capitalize on their chances and ultimately fell behind in the penalty shootout.

Germany’s Jonathan Tah had a goal ruled out due to a foul on Paraguay’s keeper, but it did not change the outcome of the match. The game went to penalties after extra time, with Havertz missing his first kick and Paraguay eventually prevailing 4-3.

The loss marks Germany’s first defeat in a penalty shootout at a World Cup since 1998. They have now failed to reach the last 16 since their 2014 World Cup victory. Paraguay will face either France or Sweden in the next round on July 4.

Source: Al Jazeera