Who will Paraguay face in Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Germany?

Paraguay have reached the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010.

Paraguay scripted history by becoming the first nation in FIFA World Cup history to beat Germany in a penalty shootout. They defeated the four-time champions in the first knockout round game of the 2026 World Cup to qualify for the round of 16 for the first time since 2010.

The first 40 minutes of the game were dominated by Germany’s high-pressure and possession-based style of play. However, finding a small opening, Paraguay scored from their first serious goal-scoring opportunity.

Julio Enciso broke the deadlock with a header on a low cross from Matias Galarza. The first half concluded with La Albirroja in the driver’s seat.

Kai Havertz later scored the equaliser for Germany in the 54th minute. For the remainder of the regular time, both teams failed to score a single goal.

In the first half of the extra time, Jonathan Tah’s header on a corner was ruled out before Orlando Gill was fouled during the buildup. La Albirroja later started playing more aggressive, physical football, which also led to more bookings by the referee.

Later, due to two saves by Orlando Gill in the shootout, they secured a spot in the next round. Nevertheless, Paraguay‘s triumph has left fans wondering about their round-of-16 rivals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 extra time & penalty shootout rules explained

Who will Paraguay face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16?

With a historic win over Germany, Paraguay have qualified for the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup. They will play their pre-quarter-final game, the Round of 16, at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday, July 4.

Gustavo Alfaro’s men will face the winner of the round-of-32 clash between France and Sweden. The France-Sweden game will be played on Tuesday, June 30, at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.

Paraguay finished third in Group D. They qualified for the Round of 32 as the seventh-best-ranked third-placed team. The other three teams in La Albirroja’s group were the US, Australia and Turkiye.

Meanwhile, France topped Group I with three wins. Sweden finished third in Group F.

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