Paraguayan President Santiago Pena declares a national holiday after one of the Paraguayan football team’s most shocking results ever fifa world cup In 2026, the four-time champion German team was eliminated and advanced to the top 16.On a night that has become something of Paraguayan sporting folklore, the South American side mustered the courage to win 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the last 32. The result marked Germany’s earliest ever penalty shootout exit, adding even more weight to a dramatic game filled with tension, controversy and high-stakes drama.Peña immediately reacted on social media platform X, capturing the joy that swept the country.“Paraguay never give up! Damn vacation!!” he posted in Spanish: “¡PARAGUAY NUNCA SE RINDE! ¡FERIADO CARAJO!!”A national holiday was declared shortly afterwards, underlining Paraguay’s huge achievement against one of the traditional powers in world football.
VAR controversy and penalty drama shape historic upset
The game itself was full of twists and turns, with momentum swinging back and forth. Germany believed they had sealed victory in extra time when Jonathan Tower headed in from a corner in the 101st minute. However, the celebrations were cut short after a VAR review overturned the goal for an attacking foul, a decision that proved decisive in sending the game to penalties.Paraguay seized the opportunity and kept their cool in a penalty shootout in which Germany missed three penalties. The decisive moment came when Paraguay added a late shot to seal the victory 4-3, sparking wild celebrations both on and off the pitch.The victory also sparked reactions across the continent. Chilean President José Antonio Castel congratulated Paraguay on social media, stressing the importance of another South American country advancing to the knockout rounds.“We arrived in Asunción and took the opportunity to watch the exciting penalty shootout between Germany and Paraguay. This great victory sent another Latin American team into the last 16 of the World Cup. Congratulations Paraguay! ” he wrote.
One of the biggest shocks of this tournament
Paraguay’s victory was one of the most spectacular upsets in modern World Cup history. The match ranks 41st in the FIFA standings with Germany in 10th, a 31-place gap that adds further statistical weight to an already eye-catching result.Since 1994, only a handful of knockout defeats have resulted in a significant gap in the rankings, placing Paraguay’s achievement alongside some of football’s most famous shockers.
