Orlando Gil saved Kai Havertz’s opening penalty and stopped Anton Waldemade later as Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the 2026 World Cup in Foxborough.
In Foxborough, the noise around Gillette Stadium didn’t fade after the final whistle. It just shifted—from the tension of an extra-time surge to the cruel precision of a penalty shootout.
Germany and Paraguay had battled to a 1-1 stalemate after extra time, then Paraguay found the margin it needed. Orlando Gil became the difference in the shootout, saving the first attempt—against Kai Havertz—and later stopping Anton Waldemade. Paraguay ultimately won 4-3 on penalty kicks. sending Germany home after a match Germany dominated in possession but couldn’t finish when it mattered most.
Gil’s role will be remembered in Paraguay in the loudest possible way. The goalkeeper also became the center of a dramatic turning point before penalties: Jonathan Tah’s header in the 101st minute appeared to have given Germany a decisive lead. but a VAR review ruled that Waldemar Anton fouled Paraguay keeper Orlando Gil before the corner kick reached Tah. The match stayed level at 1 as extra time continued.
Paraguay’s path to the Round of 16 doesn’t come from style points. It came from stubborn defending, timely counterattacks, and calm when Germany kept pressing. During the 90 minutes, Paraguay held firm while Germany repeatedly carried the ball forward. The attacking third was where the frustration lived—Germany had the possession and the territorial advantage. but the clearest chances were limited.
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay the lead first. scoring the first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal for the country in the 43rd minute with a header. Kai Havertz answered in the 54th minute, also with a header, leveling the match and keeping Germany alive. From there, the game stretched into extra time still knotted at 1.
At several moments, it looked like Germany would finally break through. In the buildup to Tah’s apparent go-ahead goal, Germany generated danger in the air and around the box. Tah powered his header in after getting on the end of a well-placed cross to put Germany ahead 2-1. But VAR overturned it after Waldemar Anton was called for interfering with Orlando Gill—meaning Germany never got the advantage that moment seemed to promise.
Extra time kept tipping toward Germany in terms of momentum. Germany’s approach produced nearly all of the scoring chances during the period. but Paraguay’s defending kept stopping the final clean look from becoming something decisive. The statistics around the physical battle reflected it: Paraguay finished with a 16-5 advantage in tackles won and 12 clearances. while Germany managed just 4.
Discipline also played a role in the tension. After a foul by Havertz along La Albirroja’s back line in extra time, he was shown a yellow card. Paraguay also received a late-match yellow card as time tightened—just another reminder that the match wasn’t simply about control, but about survival.
When the shootout arrived, the match turned into a test of nerve. The sequence began with Gil stopping the first shot taken against him by Kai Havertz. Germany then struck back and the score remained tight with the pressure of each kick. Tah, taking Germany’s sixth penalty, skied it over the crossbar—opening a lane for Paraguay’s game-winning attempt.
Alexandro Sanabria missed a chance to end it earlier for Paraguay, putting his attempt just wide left of the post. That kept the drama alive. Amiri made a move to deke the keeper, while other kicks forced Neuer’s involvement and dives that didn’t always decide anything at first.
Still, Gil’s presence in goal never stopped being the deciding factor. He nearly got his right hand on Musiala’s kick to the left corner before it skittered past. In the end, Canale delivered Paraguay’s final penalty kick—high of the crossbar—to seal the victory and send Germany packing.
The result lands with extra weight for Germany. Germany has not won a knockout stage match since winning the entire World Cup in 2014. Paraguay, meanwhile, had not qualified for the past three tournaments after reaching the quarterfinals in 2010. Now it will play the winner of France-Sweden in the Round of 16.
By the time the match ended. the story was clear even without a scoreboard explanation: Germany had the ball and the pressure. but Paraguay found the moments to defend. absorb. and turn the match into something it could win. In the end. that meant a goal ruled out by VAR. a penalty shootout shaped by saves. and a World Cup knockout stunner in New England.
Paraguay Germany Orlando Gil Kai Havertz VAR overturns goal 2026 World Cup penalty shootout Round of 16 Gillette Stadium Foxborough
VAR really does ruin everything, how’s that even allowed??
Germany had like 90% possession and still lost on pens… that’s gotta hurt. I swear penalties are just luck half the time, so Paraguay got lucky but also good on Gil.
I don’t get the VAR overturn part, like Tah’s header was a goal right? but then they said Waldemar Anton fouled the keeper before the corner?? Sounds like they just changed it after the fact bc it looked bad for Germany. Either way Orlando Gil is a beast.
Foxborough crowd noises shifting to penalties is such a wild sentence lol. Also why did Germany not finish any of those chances? possession doesn’t mean anything if you can’t score. Paraguay literally just waited and then boom headers and pens… makes me think FIFA needs to ban VAR for shootouts or something.