The Paraguay national team knocked Germany out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup via a penalty shootout in the Round of 32. The match in Foxborough was decided when German defender Jonathan Tah missed his spot-kick. This historic result for La Albirroja comes as the team's recent form shows 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses in their last five matches, according to verified data from 28 August 2026.
How did the decisive match unfold?
The Round of 16 clash between Germany and Paraguay was settled from the penalty spot. Jonathan Tah, a defender for Bayern Munich and Germany, missed his attempt in the shootout, sending Paraguay through. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, aged 40, had come out of international retirement for the tournament but could not prevent the exit. Neuer subsequently announced his second and final retirement from the national team after the World Cup.
Germany's coach at the time, Julian Nagelsmann, had made the controversial call to reinstate Neuer as the starting goalkeeper for the tournament, benching Oliver Baumann. Nagelsmann personally apologized to Baumann for this decision. The manager resigned or was dismissed after the elimination, leading to the hiring of Jürgen Klopp as the new head coach.
What changes did the elimination trigger?
The loss to Paraguay accelerated a generational and leadership shift in German football. Jürgen Klopp, former manager of Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, took over with clear ideas. He is reportedly planning to call up VfB Stuttgart defender Dženan Pejčinović to refresh the squad. Paraguay, meanwhile, continues its tournament journey currently sitting 3rd in the overall standings with 4 points from 3 games.
Within the German camp, figures like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Oliver Kahn were displeased with Jamal Musiala's perceived lack of reaction during the World Cup. DFB director Rudi Völler stated that Argentina is not the model for Germany to follow. Former captain Philipp Lahm added that his country does not need to copy Spain's style.
What is Paraguay's current context?
Following their last-16 feat, the Paraguayan side is in a period of assessment. Their last recorded result was a 0-1 defeat to France on 4 July 2026. In the World Cup group stage, the team showed resilience by finishing top of Group E, ahead of favorites Curaçao, Ecuador, and Côte d'Ivoire.
Current statistics show Paraguay has scored 2 goals and conceded 4, for a -2 goal difference. In the World Cup title race, the team is 2 points behind leaders the United States. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page and view the full roster in the squad section.
What does this win mean for the future?
The victory over Germany solidifies Paraguay as a team capable of defeating traditional powerhouses in decisive moments. This achievement occurs within a global football landscape also undergoing change. Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer expressed relief that a controversial FIFA plan to sell tournament rights to private investors for approximately $20 billion was scrapped.
Former forward Thomas Müller has questioned whether Germany is doing enough for individual player development, especially after failing to progress from the group stages in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. For Paraguay, the path continues. German practice squad goalkeeper Jonas Urbig summarized the tournament experience, saying, "We were all knocked out together; I was part of the group."
