A controversial VAR decision that disallowed Germany's potential extra-time goal proved decisive as Paraguay stunned the four-time champions in a penalty shootout to book their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to The Athletic.
Match Overview
The Round of 32 encounter at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. Paraguay kept their composure from the spot to secure a famous victory, with Germany missing three penalties in the shootout.
The Controversial VAR Decision
Germany believed they had secured the win in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner. However, after German players celebrated the goal, referee Jalal Jayed of Morocco was instructed to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor following a VAR intervention, as per The Athletic.
The goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that Germany defender Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill's movement while attempting to reach the cross, constituting a foul in the build-up, The Athletic reported.
Penalty Shootout Drama
The decision forced the match into a penalty shootout, where Paraguay held their nerve to complete one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and eliminate one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Germany's defeat marked their earliest exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. It was only their second defeat on penalties at a major international tournament, the first coming against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final (5-3), as per OptaJoe.
Historical Context
The result ranks among the biggest knockout upsets in modern World Cup history. Germany entered the tournament ranked 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Paraguay were 41st, a gap of 31 places.
Since 1994, only three World Cup knockout eliminations have featured a larger rankings disparity: Spain's defeat to Russia in 2018 (60 places), Italy's loss to South Korea in 2002 (34 places), and Spain's quarter-final exit to South Korea in 2002 (32 places).
