Germany has crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a shocking defeat against Paraguay in the round of 32. The strong German side was trailing 1-0 at half-time to Julio Enciso’s 42nd-minute header from Matias Galarza’s cross on Monday.
The result has shocked Germany and their supporters, who were expecting an easy win against the nervous Paraguay side.
Despite trailing, the German side equalised just eight minutes into the second half with a glancing header from Florian Wirtz’s ball in from the flank. With a 1-1 final score, the game had to be decided by penalties 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 the shootout.
The forward’s side would miss three kicks in total, as Paraguay, who themselves missed two kicks, eventually prevailed 4-3.
Germany was ranked 10th by FIFA while Paraguay was ranked 41st before entering the competition. The defeat of Germany is touted as the greatest upset in the World Cup, besides it already being the biggest defeat at the knockout stage.
The previous match it surpasses was another German defeat at the US 1994 World Cup, when a Hristo Stoichkov-inspired Bulgaria knocked out the defending champions in the quarter-finals.
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 2014.
Also read: Top 5 must-watch games in 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32
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