Paraguay shocks Germany: All-time World Cup knockout upset
Paraguay defeated Germany on penalties in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, producing one of the biggest upsets in tournament knockout history.
Monday's action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup added another classic upset to the tournament's history books as Paraguay stunned title contenders Germany in the Round of 32. The South Americans, who lost their opening match heavily to the United States, recovered to force a shootout and won 4-3 on penalties, with Jose Canale scoring the decisive spot-kick.
This victory is widely considered the biggest knockout upset in World Cup history. Al Jazeera lists the top five such shocks:
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Germany vs Paraguay (2026) – Paraguay, written off after a group-stage thrashing by the USA, bounced back to eliminate the four-time champions.
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Germany vs Bulgaria (1994) – Bulgaria came from behind to beat defending champion Germany 2-1 in the quarterfinals in the United States.
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Italy vs South Korea (2002) – Co-host South Korea knocked out Italy 2-1 with a golden goal in extra time in the Round of 16, eventually finishing fourth.
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Brazil vs Germany (2014) – Germany humiliated Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals on home soil, with Brazil coach calling it the worst day of his life.
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Morocco vs Portugal (2022) – Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals.
These results show that in the World Cup, no favorite is safe.
