Paraguay and Morocco pull off penalty upsets as Brazil edge past Japan

It was a busy night of tense finishes, a shootout upset, and a stoppage-time breakthrough that kept the tournament moving quickly into the next round.

Paraguay were the underdogs, but they took the lead just before half-time when Julio Enciso headed in Matías Galarza’s cross in the 42nd minute. It punished Germany for having plenty of the ball without creating clear chances.

Germany hit back after the break when Florian Wirtz set up Kai Havertz, who headed in the equaliser in the 54th minute.

Extra time produced tense, half‑chances rather than clear openings, and a Jonathan Tah header that looked to have put Germany ahead was overturned by VAR for a foul on Paraguay’s keeper Orlando Gill, a decision that proved decisive.

At the end, Paraguay beat Germany in a penalty shootout, a shocking result early in the World Cup Round of 32.

The Germans missed three penalty kicks to lose the shootout 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Germany is a four-time World Cup champion, tied for the second most in history. In Thursday's earlier game, Gabriel Martinelli scored late in second-half stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 win over Japan in Houston.

Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in a penalty shootout, and Morocco sent the Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit, eliminating the Dutch 3-2 after a 1-1 draw on Monday night.

With the shootout tied at 2-all after four rounds, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a strong save of Crysencio Summerville's attempt, batting it away with his left hand. Saibari then sent the winner into the low left corner as goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the other direction.

Cody Gakpo scored in the 72nd minute for the Dutch. After the goal, which was assisted by Summerville, the Dutch bench ran onto the field to embrace the 27-year-old Gakpo, who broke down in tears.

Morocco’s Issa Diop tied it in the 91st minute, heading in a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi. Neither team had a strong scoring opportunity in 30 minutes of extra time at Estadio BBVA.

It was the second game of the tournament to conclude with a shootout after Paraguay beat Germany on penalties hours earlier.

The teams entered with the highest combined ranking of any Round of 32 match. Morocco was sixth in the world, and the Netherlands was seventh.

The Netherlands had reached at least the round of 16 in eight previous World Cup appearances, including a quarterfinal appearance four years ago, when Morocco reached the semifinals.

Japanese national team hung in until the very end on Monday but was eliminated from the tournament, marking the third straight time Japan has had the lead in the knockout round and lost.

Japan surprised everyone early when Kaishu Sano put them ahead in the first half with a calm finish from a quick counter. Brazil improved after the break, and Casemiro headed in from a set-piece to make it 1–1.

The game looked destined for extra time before Gabriel Martinelli produced a dramatic finish deep in stoppage time, a 96th‑minute strike that completed Brazil’s late comeback and sent them through 2–1.

The winner broke Japanese hearts and underlined Brazil’s persistence.

Elimination games continue on Tuesday with three matchups: France-Sweden, Ivory Coast-Norway and Mexico-Ecuador.