Paraguay produced one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by eliminating Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout, extending its tournament journey and reviving hopes of matching the greatest achievement in the nation’s football history.
The South American side secured a 4-3 victory on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 following regular and extra time. The result, achieved in front of a packed crowd at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, United States, also marked Germany’s first defeat in a World Cup penalty shootout.
For Paraguay, the victory represents another memorable chapter for a nation that has often competed in the shadow of South America’s traditional football powers but continues to produce remarkable moments on the world stage.
A Small Nation Delivering a Giant-Killing Performance
Paraguay is one of South America’s few landlocked countries, situated at the heart of the continent. Covering an area of less than half a million square kilometres and home to around seven million people, it is among the region’s smaller nations by both size and population.
Despite those limitations, football has long occupied an important place in the country’s sporting identity.
Although Paraguay’s football history does not include the same volume of major honours enjoyed by neighbours Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, the country’s football tradition stretches back more than a century. Its football federation was founded in 1906, and Paraguay appeared at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.
The national team has won the Copa America twice, lifting the continental title in 1953 and again in 1979. The current tournament marks the country’s ninth appearance at the World Cup finals.
Looking to Match the Glory of 2010
Until now, Paraguay’s finest World Cup campaign came in South Africa in 2010.
That team topped its group with five points after defeating Slovakia 2-0 and drawing against Italy and New Zealand. It then overcame Japan 5-3 on penalties after a goalless Round of 16 encounter.
Paraguay’s run eventually came to an end in the quarter-finals, where Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory before going on to win the World Cup.
Reaching the last eight remains the country’s greatest achievement at the tournament, but the current squad now has an opportunity to equal—or even surpass—that landmark.
The country’s golden generation of the late 1990s and early 2000s had previously qualified Paraguay for four consecutive World Cups in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, establishing one of the most successful periods in the nation’s football history.
Legends Who Shaped Paraguayan Football
Few players have had a greater influence on Paraguayan football than legendary goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.
Widely regarded as the nation’s greatest footballer, Chilavert transformed expectations of the goalkeeping position during the 1980s and 1990s. Alongside his shot-stopping ability and commanding presence, he became famous for taking free-kicks and penalties, finishing his career with an extraordinary 67 goals.
He represented Paraguay at both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, helping the national team reach the Round of 16 before narrow eliminations against France and Germany respectively. For many supporters, Chilavert remains the country’s greatest football icon.
Another enduring figure is striker Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay’s all-time leading scorer and a player with more than 110 international appearances. Remarkably, at the age of 44, Santa Cruz is still playing professionally for El Nacional in the Paraguayan Premier League.
A New Generation Carrying National Hopes
The current Paraguayan squad is led by a new generation of players aiming to create its own place in history.
Playmaker Julio Incizo has emerged as the team’s leading figure. The Strasbourg midfielder is the most valuable player in the squad, with an estimated market value of nearly €25 million.
He is supported by Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez and experienced winger Miguel Almiron, who plays for Atlanta United in the United States.
Their emergence has coincided with Paraguay’s return to football’s biggest stage after failing to qualify for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The turnaround has come under Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, who took charge in the summer of 2024 and has overseen the team’s resurgence.
After producing a remarkable victory over Germany, Paraguay now stands on the brink of another historic World Cup campaign. Having already achieved one of the tournament’s greatest upsets, the nation will believe its latest generation has the quality to challenge the benchmark established by the quarter-finalists of 2010 and perhaps write an even more memorable chapter in Paraguayan football history.
