Penalty shootout sees Paraguay advance to last 16

Paraguay’s journey in the 2026 World Cup reached a pivotal stage when they triumphed over Germany via a 4‑3 penalty shoot‑out at Boston Stadium. The contest was locked at 1‑1 after Julio Ensiño’s early strike and a late header from Kai Havertz. In the shoot‑out, Paraguay’s first taker, Gonzalo Gómez, scored, while Germany’s Kai Havertz slammed his attempt onto the cross‑bar. Manuel Neuer’s heroics could not stop the South Americans, as each Paraguayan penalty taker – including Jamal Musiala’s equaliser for Germany and a subsequent miss by Niko Vollmed – paved the way for José Canale’s clinching kick. Paraguay now moves forward to the knockout’s round of 16.