Germany knocked out of World Cup 2026 after penalty shootout loss to Paraguay

Germany's campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in the round of 16 when the national team fell to Paraguay in a penalty shootout, eliminating them from the tournament.

The defeat prompted widespread criticism of head coach Julian Nagelsmann, whose unchanged line‑up and lack of a plan B were highlighted as factors in the loss. Players such as Deniz Undav posted terse messages on social media expressing disappointment, while former Dortmund star Felix Nmecha saw his early tournament hype vanish after being substituted and later watching the shootout from the bench.

In the wake of the exit, the German Football Association (DFB) faced calls to confront FIFA President Gianni Infantino over the handling of the Folarin Balogun red‑card suspension case. Meanwhile, Norway’s victory over the Ivory Coast advanced them to the next round, contrasting sharply with Germany’s early departure.