Germany Set Unwanted 92-Year Record After Shock World Cup Exit to Paraguay

• Germany crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay, setting an unwanted 92-year record by losing a World Cup shootout for the first time in their history.

Germany’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak after suffering a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the Round of 32 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

After a fiercely contested encounter that ended 1-1 following extra time, Paraguay held their nerve in the penalty shootout to eliminate the four-time world champions and book a place in the Round of 16.

Despite controlling large spells of the game and creating several clear-cut opportunities, Germany failed to make their dominance count, missing two spot-kicks in the shootout as Paraguay completed one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

The defeat also saw Germany set an unwanted record, losing a FIFA World Cup penalty shootout for the first time in their 92-year tournament history.

The latest disappointment continues Germany’s recent struggles on the global stage, having now failed to reach the quarter-finals at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, raising fresh questions about the future direction of the national team.