ROUND OF 32 — The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has been hit by a double footballing earthquake, with two European heavyweights sent packing on the same day in dramatic penalty shootouts.
Just hours after four-time world champions Germany were dumped out of the tournament by Paraguay, the Netherlands suffered the same brutal fate, losing an agonizing shootout to a resilient Morocco side.
How the Disasters Unfolded
- The German Collapse: Despite controlling the tempo and dominating possession against Paraguay, Germany failed to convert their chances. Locked at $1\text{–}1$ after extra time, a missed spot-kick in the shootout handed Paraguay a famous $4\text{–}3$ victory on penalties, booking their ticket to the next round.
- The Dutch Heartbreak: A few hours later, the Netherlands looked to be safely heading through after Cody Gakpo broke a goalless deadlock in the second half. However, a sensational, last-gasp equalizer by Morocco deep into stoppage time forced extra time. Unable to be separated after 120 minutes, Morocco held their nerve flawlessly in the penalty shootout to claim a historic win.
Knockout Bracket Impact
The mass exodus of two pre-tournament title favorites leaves the bracket wide open:
- Paraguay marches on to face the winner of France vs. Sweden.
- Morocco advances to a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash against Canada.