Germany's penalty shootout loss to Paraguay ends 2026 World Cup hopes

In a historic match held in Boston, Germany suffered a 3‑4 defeat to Paraguay on penalties, marking the team's first shootout loss in World Cup history. Previously, Germany had won all four of its World Cup penalty shootouts, a streak that began with the legendary Uli Stielike's miss in the 1982 semi‑final against France.

The defeat not only knocked Germany out of the tournament but also shattered the team's perfect penalty record. Analysts highlighted the psychological impact of the miss and warned that the result could prompt a broader review of Germany's approach to high‑pressure situations.