Paraguay stuns Germany: the World Cup's first earthquake, Berlin collapses, Asuncion erupts

The first true thunderbolt of this 2026 World Cup came from Boston. After a heroic battle, Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties (1-1, 4-3 on pens), producing one of the tournament's greatest upsets. A victory celebrated as a national event in Asuncion, while in Germany, the press is already talking of a "new nightmare" and a "damning verdict".

120 minutes of courage and discipline

Throughout normal time and extra time, Paraguay executed the plan devised by Gustavo Alfaro to perfection: a compact block, constant solidarity and maximum efficiency. Julio Enciso had opened the scoring before Kai Havertz equalised, but the Guaranis never stopped believing.

At the end of the night, goalkeeper Orlando Gill became the hero of an entire nation by getting the better of the German penalty takers. José Canale then converted the decisive spot-kick to send Paraguay into the round of sixteen, bringing an end to a stubborn myth: Germany had never previously lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup.

Germany turns on VAR…

The turning point of the match will doubtless remain the 101st minute. Jonathan Tah thought he had handed qualification to the Mannschaft with a header from a corner, and the Germans were already celebrating, before Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, alerted by VAR, ultimately disallowed the goal for a foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Julian Nagelsmann made no attempt to hide his anger. In front of ZDF's cameras, the head coach denounced a "genuine scandal", having already called it a "farce" moments earlier on MagentaTV. In his view, Orlando Gill was never prevented from playing the ball.

Former German referees Thorsten Kinhöfer and Patrick Ittrich echoed his sentiments, arguing that the contact did not warrant a VAR intervention. Jürgen Klopp also broke his silence, ironically dismissing a decision he considers incompatible with the countless set-piece duels seen every weekend. Swimming against the tide, former English referee Mark Clattenburg defended the official's call, maintaining that the Paraguayan goalkeeper had indeed been impeded — a position that found little support in the German media.

… but the German press points above all to a massive collective failure

Beyond the refereeing controversy, Germany's major outlets deliver a far harsher verdict on the substance.

• Bild speaks of a "new nightmare for German football", condemns a "disastrous performance" from a team described as "slow, boring and lethargic", and hands Julian Nagelsmann the maximum rating of 6.
• Süddeutsche Zeitung leads with "a new humiliation" and judges that Germany leaves with "a fully deserved return ticket", having convinced no one since their win over Curaçao.
• Kicker goes even further: for the reference publication of German football, this elimination represents "a damning verdict on German football". The outlet argues that Nagelsmann is not the only one responsible, but that he "failed to develop the strengths of his squad".
• Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is already questioning the manager's future: "Is Nagelsmann's time already up?"

This elimination extends a run of poor results that has become alarming. After group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany this time departs as early as the round of thirty-two. Since their World Cup title in 2014, the Nationalmannschaft have not reached the semi-finals of a major tournament.

In Paraguay, an entire nation celebrates its heroes

While Germany counts the cost, Paraguay is living through what is arguably one of the finest days in its footballing history. In Asuncion, thousands of supporters flooded the streets the moment the final whistle blew: car horns, red, white and blue flags, public squares in jubilation. Orlando Gill, Julio Enciso and Gustavo Alfaro have become the new heroes of a country that had been waiting for this moment for sixteen years.

The emotion extended far beyond the world of football. Paraguayan president Santiago Peña declared a national public holiday to allow the entire country to celebrate the feat, calling it a historic moment for the nation. The local press is already speaking of a founding victory — that of a national team which had not played at a World Cup since 2010 and has just knocked out a four-time world champion through its own weapons: courage, solidarity and remarkable tactical discipline.

The first true shock of a 48-team World Cup

After several expected results in the tournament's opening stages, this Paraguay vs Germany match will go down as the first truly great upset of the 2026 World Cup. It serves as a reminder that in a competition expanded to 48 teams, the gaps continue to narrow and favourites can no longer afford the slightest lapse.

For Paraguay, the adventure continues with a round of sixteen tie against the winner of France vs Sweden. For Germany, the questions are only just beginning: between a crisis of results, the VAR debate and the questioning of Julian Nagelsmann's project, German football is arguably going through its deepest period of self-doubt in several decades.