Germany and Netherlands eliminated early in record‑breaking 2026 World Cup

Germany and the Netherlands were knocked out in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both matches ended 1‑1 after extra time; Paraguay won the penalty shoot‑out against Germany, while Morocco defeated the Dutch side.

The tournament, the first ever with 48 teams hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has set numerous records. It featured 104 matches, 215 goals in the group stage and an average of three goals per game. Attendance reached a new high with 4.64 million spectators across the group phase, filling 99.7 % of stadium capacity. Lionel Messi became the all‑time leading scorer in World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose with 19 tournament goals. The expanded format also saw debut appearances by Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan, and a record 894 players making their World Cup debut.