how big of an upset was paraguay vs germany

It was a huge upset. Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and multiple reports called it one of the biggest World Cup shocks in history.

Why it counted as major

Germany were four-time world champions and entered as the stronger side on paper, while Paraguay were described as the tournament’s biggest underdog in that matchup. The game also ended Germany’s run after extra time and penalties, which made the loss feel even more dramatic.

How surprising was it

This was not just a narrow upset; it was a knockout-stage elimination of a heavyweight by a team many outlets framed as a historic shock. Several reports said it was the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far, and some called it one of the all-time World Cup upsets.

Match snapshot

• Final: Paraguay 4-3 Germany on penalties.

• Score after extra time: 1-1.

• Paraguay’s decisive penalty was scored by José Canale.

• Germany missed key kicks in the shootout.

Simple takeaway

If you want a plain-English rating: this was not a mild upset, it was a massive one — the kind people remember as a tournament-defining shock.

Would you like a quick comparison with other famous World Cup upsets?