Germany, a four-time World Cup winner, suffered their 'next football nightmare' on 30 June 2026 when they were knocked out in the last 32 by Paraguay, losing a penalty shootout for the first time in their World Cup history. The match, played at Boston Stadium, ended 1-1 after extra time before Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties. Kai Havertz had equalised for Germany after Julio Enciso put Paraguay ahead, but Havertz then missed the opening spot-kick, and Nick Woltemade also saw his penalty saved. Jonathan Tah blazed his attempt over. The result means Germany have now failed to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup since they won the tournament in 2014.
Germany have historically been one of football's most consistent tournament sides. Including their time as West Germany, they have won the World Cup four times, finished runners-up four times, and won three European Championships. But since their 2014 triumph in Brazil, the national team has endured a steep decline. They were eliminated in the group stage at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups – failing to progress past the first round for the first time in their history in 2018. In 2026, with the expanded 48-team tournament, they exited at the first knockout stage, a round-of-32 tie.
“Explaining Germany's World Cup struggles since 2014 and their shock exit to Paraguay in 2026.”
Julian Nagelsmann, who took over as Germany coach in September 2023 after winning the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2022, had led the team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on home soil. But the World Cup campaign started promisingly – a 7-1 win over Curacao and a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast – before the defeat to Paraguay, who were ranked 41st in the world, 31 places below Germany. Nagelsmann admitted after the game: "This is the third elimination in a row, so we are not part of the first-class teams any more."
For UK readers, Germany's struggles matter because the national team had been a benchmark of tournament success for decades. Their Champions League-winning clubs – Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund – have remained elite, but the national side has not produced the same results. The defeat also involved several Premier League players: Havertz (Arsenal), Woltemade (Newcastle), and former Brighton forward Enciso for Paraguay. The result has sparked speculation about Nagelsmann's future, with Jürgen Klopp, who has been working as a TV pundit during the tournament, touted as a potential replacement.
Q: Why did Germany lose to Paraguay? Germany dominated possession (75%) but struggled to break down a well-organised Paraguay defence. A goal by Jonathan Tah in extra time was controversially disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper after a VAR review, which the referee described as "attacker No.3 prevented the goalkeeper from challenging the ball". Germany then lost their first World Cup penalty shootout, having previously won all four they had contested.
Q: How many World Cups have Germany won? Germany have won the World Cup four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014). They have also finished runners-up four times. Since 2014, they have not advanced past the round of 16.
Q: Is Julian Nagelsmann going to be sacked? Nagelsmann is under mounting pressure. The German media, including Bild, labelled the defeat "the next German football nightmare". Jürgen Klopp has been linked with the job, and Nagelsmann himself said the team is "not part of the first-class teams any more". No official decision has been announced.
What happens next: Paraguay will play a last-16 tie in Philadelphia. For Germany, the focus shifts to the UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign, and a decision on Julian Nagelsmann's future is expected in the coming days. The German Football Association (DFB) must consider whether to stick with the 38-year-old or turn to a new manager – possibly Jürgen Klopp – to reverse the national team's fortunes.