Paraguay Upsets Germany, Brazil and Morocco Advance in World Cup Round of 32
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 featured three thrilling matches overnight between June 29 and 30. Brazil secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan thanks to a last-minute goal by Gabriel Martinelli in the 92nd minute, keeping their quest for a sixth World Cup title alive.
In the biggest surprise of the tournament so far, Paraguay eliminated Germany in a penalty shootout 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, sending the defending champions home early.
The final match of the night saw Morocco defeat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Morocco equalized late in stoppage time through Issa Diop and then prevailed in a tense shootout marked by five missed penalties, including misses by Dutch players Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Krisencio Summerville. This victory sends Morocco to face Canada in the Round of 16, confirming their strong presence at the tournament after an impressive showing in Qatar.
These results highlight the unpredictability and excitement of the 2026 World Cup knockout stage as traditional powers like Germany and the Netherlands exit early, while teams like Paraguay and Morocco advance further than expected.
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