Germany & Netherlands Crash Out: Paraguay and Morocco Produce Epic World Cup 2026 Penalty Shootout Shocks

# Germany & Netherlands Crash Out: Paraguay and Morocco Produce Epic World Cup 2026 Penalty Shootout Shocks

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 has delivered two of the biggest shocks in tournament history. **Germany and the Netherlands — two of Europe’s traditional powerhouses — were both eliminated in penalty shootouts within 24 hours**, falling to Paraguay and Morocco respectively.

## The Shocks

### Paraguay 1–1 Germany (4–3 Pens)

Germany, four-time world champions, were sent packing by a fearless Paraguay side that refused to believe the script. After a tense 1–1 draw, the match went to penalties — and Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gill became the national hero, saving two German spot-kicks before Jonathan Tah skied the decisive penalty over the crossbar.

**Paraguay won 4–3 on penalties**, sparking wild celebrations across South America.

### Netherlands 1–1 Morocco (Morocco Win on Pens)

Just hours later, Morocco produced another stunning upset. The Atlas Lions looked destined for elimination until Issa Diop scored in the dying minutes of stoppage time to force extra time. The match went to penalties, and it was Ismael Sabari who stepped up as the shootout hero for Morocco.

**Morocco advances**, sending the Dutch home in heartbreak — a repeat of their 2022 Qatar World Cup quarterfinal exit, also at the hands of Morocco.

## Other Round of 32 Results

### Norway Made History Too

Erling Haaland continued his incredible form, scoring the winning goal as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2–1 — securing Norway’s **first-ever knockout stage victory** in a men’s World Cup.

## What This Means

The 2026 World Cup has already shown that the expanded 48-team format brings more drama, not less. Underdogs like Paraguay, Morocco, Cape Verde, and Bosnia have all made deep runs, proving that the gap between traditional powers and rising nations is narrowing.

**Germany’s exit** marks their second consecutive early World Cup elimination after the group stage exit in 2022. For the Netherlands, it’s a painful reminder of their 2022 quarterfinal loss — also to Morocco.

## What’s Next?

The Round of 32 continues with more action:

– **France vs Sweden** — The tournament favorites look to avoid an upset
– **Mexico (co-host) in action** — El Tri backed by a massive home crowd
– **Upcoming Round of 16 fixtures** (starting July 4):
– Canada vs Morocco
– Paraguay vs TBD
– Brazil vs TBD

## FAQ

### How does the Round of 32 work in the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams. The top two from each of the 12 groups (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to a new **Round of 32** knockout stage. All matches are single elimination.

### When is the World Cup 2026 final?

The final will be played on **July 19, 2026** at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

### Have Germany and Netherlands ever been eliminated this early before?

Germany were eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, but this is their first Round of 32 exit. For the Netherlands, they last failed to reach the knockout stage proper in 2010 (runner-up), making this Round of 32 exit a major disappointment.

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**Final Verdict:** The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable tournaments ever. Paraguay and Morocco have shown that no team is unbeatable when the pressure hits. With giants falling early, the path to the final has suddenly opened wide.

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