Paraguay send Germany home on penalties as Round of 16 picture shifts
Paraguay produced one of the big shocks of the 2026 World Cup by eliminating Germany on penalties in the round of 32, a result that reshapes the knockout bracket and sets up a last‑16 clash with in‑form France.
Germany, one of the pre‑tournament favourites, were held to a 1-1 draw over 120 tense minutes in Boston before Paraguay prevailed 4-3 in the shootout to book their place in the round of 16.
How the upset unfolded
According to the updated bracket and results, the tie finished Germany 1, Paraguay 1, with Paraguay going through on spot kicks after the stalemate. usatoday.com
The penalty victory sends Paraguay into the last 16 for a matchup against France, who themselves advanced with a commanding 3-0 win over Sweden in New Jersey. sports.ndtv.com usatoday.com
Germany’s exit is described as the first major upset of the round of 32, underscoring how quickly a heavyweight can be knocked off in the expanded knockout format. usatoday.com
A bracket turned on its head
Paraguay’s win joins a series of surprise results in the round of 32. On the same side of the bracket, Morocco also advanced on penalties after a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, winning their shootout 3-2 in Guadalupe. usatoday.com
Elsewhere, Brazil survived a scare against Japan, coming from behind in Houston to win 2-1, and Canada made history with a 1-0 extra‑time victory over South Africa, their first ever World Cup knockout‑stage win. usatoday.com
The seven teams confirmed in the round of 16 are Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France and Mexico, illustrating a mix of traditional powers and emerging nations. usatoday.com
What Paraguay’s shock means for France — and the tournament
Paraguay’s reward is a high‑profile round of 16 tie against France at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. usatoday.com
France arrive in that game in formidable form. Their 3-0 victory over Sweden continued a run of free‑scoring performances, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to become the all‑time leading scorer in World Cup knockout rounds and draw level with Lionel Messi at six goals in this tournament. sports.ndtv.com nytimes.com
The bracket now places a confident, historically dominant France against a Paraguay side riding the momentum of knocking out Germany, adding another layer of intrigue to a round of 16 that already includes Morocco vs. Canada in Houston. usatoday.com
With Germany and the Netherlands both gone on penalties and emerging nations like Paraguay and Morocco stepping into the spotlight, the early knockout phase has underlined the unpredictability of the expanded 2026 World Cup — and set the stage for a last‑16 meeting in Philadelphia that now carries far greater weight for both sides and the tournament as a whole.