Germany and Netherlands Eliminated as Brazil Survives World Cup Drama

By Aurax Desk | June 30, 2026 | 2 min read

Germany and the Netherlands were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Paraguay and Morocco secured upset victories, while Brazil survived a late scare against Japan. The dramatic Round of 32 results sent two traditional powers home and kept Brazil's title hopes alive.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 delivered major surprises as Paraguay eliminated Germany, Morocco knocked out the Netherlands and Brazil needed a late winner to avoid an early exit against Japan. Paraguay stunned four-time champion Germany by winning a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, continuing one of the tournament's most surprising runs. Germany equalized after falling behind in the first half but failed to capitalize on periods of possession and pressure, allowing Paraguay to force penalties and secure a historic victory that sent the South American side into the quarterfinals.

Later, Morocco joined Paraguay among the tournament's surprise winners by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in Monterrey. The Dutch appeared on course for victory after taking a second-half lead, but Morocco equalized deep into stoppage time before prevailing from the penalty spot. The result extends Morocco's reputation as a formidable tournament team following its historic semifinal appearance in 2022 and keeps Africa represented in the knockout rounds. Morocco will next face Canada for a place in the quarterfinals.

Brazil, meanwhile, narrowly avoided joining the list of eliminated favorites. Japan took a first-half lead and remained organized defensively for much of the match before Casemiro equalized after the break. As extra time loomed, Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory and send the five-time world champions into the Round of 16. The results highlighted the competitive balance of the expanded 48-team tournament, where traditional powers have increasingly been challenged by emerging contenders capable of matching them over 90 minutes and beyond.

Sources: Reuters, FIFA, ESPN, BBC Sport, Al Jazeera, Fox Sports, Deutsche Welle, The Telegraph and The Athletic.

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