Paraguay eliminated Germany from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32 after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Monday.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time.
>>> Cody Gakpo Scores in World Cup After Losing Unborn Son
Julio Enciso put Paraguay ahead in the 42nd minute, and Kai Havertz equalized for Germany in the 54th minute.
A late extra-time goal by Germany's Jonathan Tah was disallowed after VAR detected a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
Gill became the shootout hero by saving penalties from Havertz and Nick Woltemade.
Germany had previously held a perfect 4-0 record in World Cup penalty shootouts, defeating France in 1982, Mexico in 1986, England in 1990, and Argentina in 2006, while converting 17 of 18 total penalties.
This defeat marks Germany's earliest World Cup knockout stage exit in 64 years, following consecutive group stage eliminations in 2018 and 2022 under head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
>>> Rock Arch Collapse in Malta Kills Chinese Tourist, Injures Woman
German media outlet Bild described the elimination as an embarrassment for the country's football program, reporting: "Another nightmare for German football!
A humiliating elimination from the World Cup."
Sport1. de noted: "The German World Cup disaster has become a fact!"
and reminded readers of the team's recent painful disappointments.
Die Welt highlighted how Germany's decades-long reputation for penalty invincibility crumbled in Foxborough, stating: "Their reputation lay in ruins, and the legend became history."
>>> Mariners Beat Angels 6-2 Behind Kirby's Strong Start, Young's Two Homers
Sky Sports Germany summarized that the defeat plunged German football back into crisis.
