The Paraguayan national team succeeded in booking a ticket to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, after defeating the German national team on penalties with a score of 4-3, after the end of regular and extra time in a positive draw 1-1, in an exciting confrontation hosted by Boston Stadium.
The Paraguayan national team entered the match with great confidence, and succeeded in opening the scoring in the 42nd minute through Julio Cesar Enciso, who took advantage of a perfect pass. From Fonda, he put the ball into the net, and Paraguay ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.
At the beginning of the second half, the German team pressed hard in search of a comeback, which was achieved in the 54th minute when Kai Havertz rose to a wonderful cross from Florian Wirtz, and headed it into the goal, announcing the equalizer.
The German team imposed its advantage over the course of the match in terms of possession and creating opportunities, while the Paraguay team relied on organization. Defensive and counterattacking, the tie remained until the end of regular time.
The confrontation extended to extra time, where the Germans believed they had secured qualification after Jonathan Tah scored a goal in the 102nd minute, but the referee canceled it after returning to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, due to a foul on the Paraguayan goalkeeper.
The score remained unchanged until the whistle at the end of extra time, with both teams calling for kicks. The penalty shootout, which ultimately smiled for the Paraguayan team with a score of 4-3, clinching the qualification ticket to the round of 16, while the German team exited the tournament despite the strong performance it presented throughout the match.