Paraguay Hails Historic World Cup Upset Over Germany, Sets Sights on Quarterfinal Berth

Foxborough, June 2026 : Paraguay’s players and coaching staff hailed their team’s belief, resilience and meticulous preparation after producing one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating four-time champions Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the Round of 16.

Paraguay secured a memorable 4-3 victory in the shootout after the teams were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time, ending Germany’s remarkable unbeaten record in FIFA World Cup penalty shootouts and recording the South American nation’s first-ever victory in a World Cup knockout match.

An emotional Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro paid glowing tribute to his players after the historic triumph, describing them as heroes who had etched their names into the country’s football history.

“I had 26 warriors before the match, and they became legends after it,” Alfaro said.

“Maybe we’ll be eliminated in the next round, maybe not. We’ll see. But this match was epic.”

The Argentine coach highlighted the determination and fighting spirit of his squad, contrasting their humble backgrounds with Germany’s world-class football infrastructure.

“Our opponents are developed in the best academies in Europe. We come from the red earth,” Alfaro said.

“We learned to play football barefoot, with parents making sacrifices so their children could pursue their dreams. That’s where we come from.”

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill emerged as Paraguay’s hero after producing two crucial saves during the penalty shootout to earn the Player of the Match award. The 26-year-old revealed that his performance was the result of extensive preparation and detailed analysis of Germany’s penalty takers.

“I analyzed every player, every aspect, every detail. I was able to save two penalties, and that proved decisive for our qualification,” Gill said.

Despite the famous victory, Gill admitted Germany had dominated large phases of the contest and kept Paraguay under constant pressure.

“It was like a horror movie. The Germans just kept appearing everywhere,” he said.

Forward Julio Enciso, who scored during the match, said Paraguay respected Germany’s quality but never allowed the reputation of the four-time world champions to affect their confidence.

“We respected them because they have very good players, but we weren’t afraid of anyone,” Enciso said.

Looking ahead to the next challenge, Paraguay will face the winner of Tuesday’s Round of 32 clash between France and Sweden for a place in the quarterfinals.

Enciso acknowledged that either opponent would pose a formidable challenge but insisted Paraguay would remain faithful to the style of football that had carried them this far.

“They have top-class players. There’s no need to mention their names because they are stars,” he said.

“But we also have our own strengths, and with our style of play we’ll try to trouble whoever we face.”

Having already created one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by eliminating Germany, Paraguay now head into the Round of 16 with renewed confidence, hoping their remarkable World Cup journey can continue against another European heavyweight.