World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Brazil Survive Japan Scare, Paraguay Deliver Tournament's Biggest Upset Over Germany

 

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 produced two unforgettable matches as Brazil narrowly escaped a determined Japan side while Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Both games delivered late drama and showed why the knockout stage continues to captivate football fans around the world.

Brazil 2-1 Japan

Brazil needed a stoppage-time winner to escape Houston with their World Cup dream intact, coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a tense last-32 tie. Japan struck first when Kaishu Sano capitalized on a sloppy Brazilian pass and shaky Casemiro defending to fire his side ahead just before the half-hour mark, silencing a heavily pro-Brazil crowd. Brazil struggled to find rhythm in the first half but improved significantly after the break, leveling through a Casemiro header after he'd earlier seen a similar effort cleared off the line. With the game locked at 1-1 deep into extra time, substitute Gabriel Martinelli settled it in the 96th minute, curling home a fine winner after being played through by Bruno Guimarães. Brazil's dominance in underlying numbers — an expected-goals tally of 1.72 compared to Japan's 0.23 — reflected a team that created far more but was made to work until the very last kick by a disciplined, well-organized Japan side chasing a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal.

Germany 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay win 4-3 on penalties)

In one of the tournament's most shocking results, Germany suffered their first-ever World Cup penalty shootout defeat, crashing out of the competition to Paraguay — a nation of just 7 million people ranked 41st in the world, compared to Germany's 10th. Paraguay took a surprise lead through Julio Enciso's first-half header, with Kai Havertz leveling for Germany early in the second half. The match swung dramatically in extra time when Jonathan Tah appeared to head Germany in front in the 102nd minute, only for VAR to disallow the goal over a foul on Paraguay's goalkeeper — a decision that has since fueled major debate among pundits and fans alike.

With no further goals, the match went to penalties, where Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill became the hero of the night, saving attempts from both Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Jonathan Tah, whose earlier goal had been ruled out, then blazed his penalty over the crossbar, handing Jose Canale — who hadn't even started either of Paraguay's previous two matches — the chance to send his country through. He converted calmly, sparking wild celebrations back home in Asunción. It marked Germany's first-ever World Cup shootout loss, an especially painful result given they'd previously won six straight major-tournament shootouts dating back to 1976, and continues a troubling pattern for German football, which has now failed to advance past the group stage in two of the last three World Cups before this even earlier exit.

What's Next

Paraguay will now prepare for a Round of 16 clash after eliminating Germany in one of the tournament's biggest surprises, while Brazil continue their pursuit of a sixth World Cup title after surviving a spirited challenge from Japan.

With the knockout stage becoming increasingly competitive, every remaining match promises high drama as the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who eliminated Germany from the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Paraguay defeated Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

How did Brazil beat Japan?

Brazil came from behind to win 2-1, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.

Who will Paraguay play next?

Paraguay advanced to the Round of 16, where they were set to face the winner of France vs Sweden.