• Paraguay defeats Germany 4-3 on penalties, marking a historic World Cup upset.
• Julio Enciso scores for Paraguay, while Kai Havertz equalizes for Germany.
• Orlando Gill's two crucial saves lead Paraguay to its first knockout match victory since 2010.
• This is Germany’s first defeat in a World Cup penalty shootout.
• Paraguay will face either France or Sweden in the next round of the tournament.

In a stunning upset, Paraguay knocked out four-time World Cup champions Germany by winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw during the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Julio Enciso opened the scoring for Paraguay with a header before Kai Havertz equalized for Germany, culminating in dramatic penalties that saw Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill saving two crucial shots, marking Germany's first loss in a World Cup penalty shootout history, according to Al Jazeera, Channel News Asia, and Le Monde.

The match was characterized by immense tension, as both sides exchanged scoring chances. Paraguay took a surprising lead in the 42nd minute through Enciso, who capitalized on a defensive lapse by Germany. However, Germany responded shortly after halftime when Havertz equalized in the 54th minute. Despite a VAR review that disallowed a potential Germany goal in extra time, the match proceeded to penalties where Gill emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Jose Canale sealed the victory with the winning kick, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

Paraguay's coach, Gustavo Alfaro, commended his players for their extraordinary performance, crediting their intense preparation and commitment. "We knew we were facing one of the main title contenders... and I experienced it with great intensity," Alfaro stated. He emphasized that the physical demands of the match had significantly challenged his team, yet they managed to execute their game plan by limiting Germany's scoring opportunities, as noted by Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera.

This victory holds significant historical weight as it marks Paraguay's first knockout win in World Cup history since 2010 and secures their place in the last 16 against either France or Sweden. The team will now aim to build upon this momentum, with players and staff expressing confidence in their potential to continue their unexpected run in the tournament, according to Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera.