Germany was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday after losing to Paraguay in a penalty shoot-out [1].
The defeat marks a premature exit for one of the tournament's most decorated teams, ending their campaign in the Round of 32 [2].
The match took place on June 29, 2026, at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts [3]. After the teams remained tied through regulation and extra time, the result was decided by a series of penalties. Paraguay secured the victory with a 4-3 win in the shoot-out [1].
During the match, a potential winning goal for Germany in extra time was nullified by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) [4]. This decision kept the game scoreless and forced the match into the tie-breaking phase.
Following the loss, German defender Antonio Rudiger said the situation was a bitter reality the team must accept [5]. The elimination leaves the German squad to reflect on a tournament that ended far earlier than expected.
Paraguay now advances to the Round of 16 [6]. The victory represents a significant achievement for the South American side, which managed to withstand German pressure throughout the knockout match.
“Paraguay won the penalty shoot-out 4-3, ending Germany’s tournament run.”
Germany's exit in the Round of 32 represents a continuing struggle for the national team to regain its historical dominance in the World Cup. The reliance on VAR for a critical disallowed goal underscores the high-stakes volatility of the modern tournament format, while Paraguay's advancement signals a shift in momentum for the underdog in the knockout stages.
