Edi Umoh
Paraguay has shocked Germany after defeat in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup to reach Round 16.
The Germans trailed 1-0 at half-time to Julio Enciso’s 42nd minute header.
It was a limp display by the four-time winners in the first period, but they drew level in the second half when Kai Havertz scored eight minutes after the restart.
Germany had a goal thereafter from a corner ruled out after a VAR review for a foul on Paraguay’s keeper, but with no further goal added the game went to spot kicks after extra time.
Havertz, who helped Arsenal end a 22-year wait to win the English Premier League title this season, missed the opening kick of shootout.
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The South American side battled to a 1-1 draw with Germany before taking down the European giant 4-3 in penalties on Monday in the Round of 32.
Germany were ranked number 10 in world by the game’s governing body FIFA entering the tournament, while Paraguay were ranked 41st.
The defeats is arguably the greatest upset in World Cup knockout football, surpassing another German defeat at USA 1994, when a Hristo Stoichkov-inspired Bulgaria knocked out the defending champions in the quarterfinals.
Stoichkov, then a Barcelona player, had been named Ballon d’Or winner for 1994, while Bulgaria were ranked 29 in the world at the time.
It was the Germans first defeat on penalties at a World Cup, and they have now failed to reach the last-16 since they last won the competition in 2010.
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Paraguay moves to Round of 16 and will await the winner of Tuesday’s game between France and Sweden.
Brazil Beat Japan to reach Round of 16
Meanwhile, Brazil has joined Round 16 as substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored deep in injury time as Brazil beat a stubborn Japan 2-1 on Monday to roll into the World Cup last 16.
Arsenal winger Martinelli struck in the 95th minute in Houston to break Japanese hearts in the most dramatic fashion.
The five-time champions will face either the Ivory Coast or Norway in New Jersey on Sunday after edging a captivating knockout encounter.
Japan midfielder Kaishu Sano scored a classy solo goal after 29 minutes following a Brazil mistake to stun the huge numbers of fans decked out in yellow.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s men hit back 11 minutes after half-time with a header from veteran Casemiro as Brazil dominated the second period.
Then up popped Martinelli right at the death to settle it and send the Brazil fans wild.
History was against Japan: they had never won a knockout game at the World Cup while Brazil were record five-time champions.
But this is not a vintage Brazil side, even with Ancelotti at the helm, while Japan have been talked of as dark horses.
With the Brazil fans’ drums providing a constant rhythmic backdrop, Ancelotti’s side were on top early on in front of a crowd of 68,777.
Defensive midfielder Sano was booked for crunching in on Vinicius Junior, then Brazilian attacker Matheus Cunha forced goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to turn the ball wide.
Japan, who beat Brazil 3-2 in October in a home friendly for their first victory over the South Americans, then enjoyed a spell in the ascendancy.
Just before the half-hour mark, Hajime Moriyasu’s team took the lead, and it stemmed from an error by Danilo as he gave the ball away with a sloppy pass.
Sano, one of four changes from Japan’s 1-1 draw with Sweden at the end of the group phase, picked the ball up in the centre circle and got away from the 34-year-old Casemiro — who was on a booking — with ease.
Sano, who plays for Mainz in Germany, drove upfield before sweeping the ball past goalkeeper Alisson. It was his first goal for his country.
Now the Brazil supporters were edgy, groaning when a move broke down or a pass went backwards.
Brazil, whose last World Cup triumph was in 2002, looked unconvincing at the back and ineffective in attack.
Ancelotti was forced into a change at the break, an emotional Lucas Paqueta limping off in distress with the attacking midfielder replaced by 19-year-old striker Endrick.
Japan, who thrashed Tunisia and held the Netherlands and Sweden to reach the last 32, had Brazil where they wanted them.
Brazil ramped up the pressure to start the second half, and Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu twice kept the ball off the line, not that he knew much about it.
Brazil were soon level, Arsenal defender Gabriel sending in an inviting cross for midfielder Casemiro to head in unmarked at the back post.
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The danger man Vinicius, well stifled up until then, turned the Japan defence inside out and stabbed the ball towards Suzuki, who directed it onto the post.
It was all Brazil as they pushed for a late winner, with Vinicius — who scored four times in the group stage — increasingly in the thick of it.
Then came Martinelli’s late intervention.
