30 June,2026 07:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Paraguay players celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out (Pic: AFP)
A controversial VAR decision that ruled out Germany's potential extra-time winner proved decisive as Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany in a penalty shootout to book their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Round of 32 matchup at Gillette Stadium remained level at 1-1 following 120 minutes of gruelling action. In the penalty shootout, Paraguay maintained a perfect streak from the spot to secure a historic win.
Tournament favourites Germany thought they had secured the victory in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah directed a powerful header into the back of the net from a corner kick. However, the Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed was advised by the VAR team to evaluate the play at the pitch-side review screen.
The goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that Germany defender Waldemar Anton had blocked Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill's movement while attempting to reach the cross, resulting in a foul.
The disallowed goal pushed the contest into a penalty shootout, where Paraguay showed nerves of steel to cause an upset at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The defeat marked Germany's earliest exit from the FIFA World Cup, while Paraguay progressed to the Round of 16 after a memorable night defined by VAR controversy, defensive resilience and clinical finishing from the penalty spot.
According to data from OptaJoe, this result is only the second time Germany has ever lost a penalty shootout at a major international tournament, with their sole prior shootout defeat coming against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final (5-3).
The final result stands as one of the most stunning knockout shocks in World Cup history. Germany is ranked 10th in the official FIFA World Rankings, compared to Paraguay at 41st.
Since 1994, only three World Cup knockout phase eliminations have seen a wider ranking differential: Spain's loss to Russia in 2018 (60 places), Italy's defeat against South Korea in 2002 (34 places), and Spain's quarter-final loss against South Korea in 2002 (32 places).
(With ANI inputs)
