29 June 2026, USA, Foxborough: Soccer, Men: World Cup, Germany vs. Paraguay, Knockout Stage, Round of 32, Boston Stadium, Nathaniel Brown (Germany), Jamal Musiala (Germany), Malick Thiaw (Germany), Waldemar Anton (Germany) (Germany) and Jonathan Tah (Germany) react with disappointment after the match. Germany loses in a penalty shootout. PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with FIFA regulations, these images may be used exclusively for editorial purposes. Commercial use is prohibited. Furthermore, no video-like sequences may be created, and no alterations may be made to the image, either in the foreground or the background. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa (MaxPPP TagID: dpaphotosnine662316.jpg) [Photo via MaxPPP]
In a stunning turn of events this Monday in Foxborough, Germany’s 2026 World Cup journey concluded abruptly in the Round of 32, as they were ousted by Paraguay in a dramatic penalty shootout (4-3) following a 1-1 draw. After 120 minutes of deadlock, the Mannschaft suffered another historic setback, while the South American squad celebrated an unexpected progression to the Round of 16.
A truly historic upset unfolded as the Mannschaft was surprisingly eliminated from the World Cup during the Round of 32 by Paraguay, decided by a tense penalty shootout that ended 4-3 after the match concluded in a 1-1 draw.
On the evening of Monday, June 29, Julian Nagelsmann’s squad saw their tournament run cut short. Facing a Paraguayan team that had been absent from the global stage since 2010, the Germans struggled significantly to establish their dominant style of play. They found themselves trailing 1-0 before halftime due to a goal from Julio Enciso, though they managed to equalize swiftly, subsequent scoring opportunities remained unconverted.
Germany’s Persistent Struggles Confirmed
This outcome underscores the ongoing crisis within German football. Since securing the global title in 2014, Germany has consistently failed to advance past the Round of 16 in any subsequent World Cup, marking three consecutive eliminations either in the group stage or the initial knockout rounds. This represents a stark deviation for a national team that previously boasted an impressive record of nine consecutive quarter-final appearances.
Meanwhile, Paraguay continues its remarkable journey. Having narrowly advanced as one of the “best third-placed teams” from their group, La Albirroja now enters the Round of 16 for the first time in sixteen years. The South Americans could potentially face the French national team in the next stage, a match-up that would evoke memories of their historic encounter during the 1998 World Cup.
