Paraguay and Morocco secure historic Round of 32 penalty shootout upsets to eliminate tournament heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands. 2 Games summary
The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 delivered unprecedented drama as European titans Germany and the Netherlands were sensationally dumped out of the tournament in back to back penalty shootouts.
Paraguay shattered Germany’s historically flawless shootout record, while Morocco continued its modern football fairytale by eliminating a Dutch side heavily favored by pundits to lift the trophy.
Gill Shines as Paraguay Blanks Germany
Paraguay advanced to the Round of 16 by defeating Germany 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Julio Enciso opened the scoring for Paraguay in the 42nd minute, but Kai Havertz equalized for Germany early in the second half. A late German goal by Jonathan Tah was disallowed by VAR, sending the match to a shootout. Towering Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill became the hero with critical saves, allowing José Canale to smash home the winning spot kick.
Morocco Stuns Tournament Favorites
Hours later, Morocco replicated the heroics by eliminating the Netherlands 3–2 on penalties following another 1–1 tie. Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead in the 72nd minute, but Issa Diop headed home a dramatic Moroccan equalizer in the 87th minute. In the shootout, Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou stopped Xavi Simons before Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty to send the tournament favorites packing.
A Wide Open Tournament
With the Netherlands and Germany officially out, the remaining World Cup field presents a fascinating race. Traditional giants Argentina and Brazil remain firmly in the title hunt alongside France and Portugal, who both face crucial matches later this week. However, these spectacular exits prove the gap is closing, and the momentum built by Paraguay and Morocco suggests a surprise package could realistically reach the World cup 2026 final.
Join our newsletter to receive updates on new articles and exclusive content.
We respect your privacy and will never share your information.
