Paraguay just beat Germany. That could be a good sign for USA's World Cup hopes

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Paraguay just beat Germany. That could be a good sign for USA's World Cup hopes

Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Jun 29, 2026 ·

2 min read

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FOXBOROUGH, MA — In one of the most shocking results of the 2026 World Cup thus far, Paraguay has knocked Germany out of the tournament.

La Albirroja earned a victory in a penalty shootout thanks to a stellar performance from their defense. Germany dominated possession, but Paraguay 's back line held up well, forcing 35 turnovers, drawing numerous fouls and seeing goalkeeper Orlando Gill come up with the big saves needed to advance to the round of 16.

Paraguay will obviously be the biggest beneficiary from its victory, which marks just the second time in the country's history it has won a knockout stage match at the World Cup.

But the United States men's national team should also come away from Monday's match feeling pretty darn good about itself. After all, they absolutely manhandled Paraguay when they first faced off in their World Cup opening 4-1 victory .

Gustavo Gomez #15 of Paraguay celebrates after Jose Canale #13 scores the winning penalty in a penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)

Paraguay's Jose Canale scores a penalty to win the penalty shootout.
(Winslow Townson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Paraguay's Jose Canale celebrates scoring a penalty to win the penalty shootout.
(Paul Rutherford, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)

Gustavo Gomez #15 of Paraguay celebrates with teammates after Jose Canale #13 scores the winning penalty in a penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass.
(Darrian Traynor, Getty Images)

Paraguay players celebrate after Jose Canale #13 of Paraguay scores the sixth penalty in a penalty shootout for victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

(L-R) Germany's forward #11 Nick Woltemade, defender #24 Malick Thiaw, midfielder #08 Leon Goretzka and forward #07 Kai Havertz react during the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)

Germany's forward #07 Kai Havertz reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)

Germany's defender #05 Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender #18 Nathaniel Brown react after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)

Germany's midfielder #20 Nadiem Amiri reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)

Paraguayan fans celebrate after winning the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)

A Germany fan reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

Kai Havertz #7 of Germany reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)

Paraguay's defender #15 Gustavo Gomez (C) and teammates celebrate after winning the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)

Germany fans react after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

Many opined the USMNT 's first half against Paraguay – during which the Stars and Stripes relentlessly scissored their way through the Paraguayan defense and scored three goals – was one of the best halves of American soccer ever.

Still, a common refrain echoed after that contest. Sure, the USMNT won handily, but it was just Paraguay . How would it hold up against higher-caliber competition?

To be fair, the immediate downplaying of victory over Paraguay was understandable. The South American country ranked 41st in the last official set of FIFA World Rankings entering the 2026 World Cup. It also hadn't made it to the tournament since 2010, so it was easy to write La Albirroja off as a non-contender.

But since the loss to the United States, Paraguay has been formidable. Its strong brand of defense earned it clean sheets against Turkey and Australia to help it through to the round of 32 as a third-place side.

And while Paraguay wasn't able to hold the Germans scoreless, it did well to limit and frustrate a side that entered play Monday tied for the tournament high with 10 goals.

All that's to say that the United States' victory over Paraguay is aging well. The Americans should feel great about putting four goals past such a strong Paraguay defense, especially considering Christian Pulisic was only able to play half of the match because of a calf injury.

If Pulisic is ready to play a larger role in the knockout stages, the United States should retain one of the most explosive offensive attacks among the teams remaining in the tournament.

That could be enough to help the team make its deepest-ever World Cup run.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paraguay just beat Germany. That could be a good sign for USA's World Cup hopes

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Paraguay just beat Germany. That could be a good sign for USA's World Cup hopes

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller

Emotional scenes as Paraguay beats Germany in penalty shootout thriller