Matchday 19 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 brought us two penalty shootouts, two come-from-behind victories and one monumental shock result.Â
Here is our recap of all the action from Monday, including what you might have missed overnight.
World Cup Day 19:Â
Paraguay send Germany packing
The first major upset of the knockout stage of the tournament sent tremors through the footballing world. Paraguay were considered one of the worst teams to have qualified for the round of 32, but they managed to eliminate four-time winners Germany in a penalty shootout.
La Albirroja took a surprise lead just before halftime in Foxborough when former Brighton attacker Julio Enciso finished off a well worked move.
Die Mannschaft hit back shortly after the interval when Kai Havertz nodded home the equaliser with a deft header in the 54th minute.
That should have been the platform for Germany to go on and win the game in normal time, but Julian Nagelmann’s blunt attack couldn’t find the all-important goal to go ahead.
They thought they had done so in extra-time when Jonathan Tah sent a powerful header into the back of the net, but it was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper; the VAR spotted that Orlando Gill was pushed over by Waldemar Anton when the corner was taken. Although Gill managed to get back on his feet and reset himself before the header, it was refreshing to see a referee punish a clear foul on a corner after seeing them go ignored in the Premier League all season long.
The game had to be decided by penalties, which was ideal for the Germans; they had never before lost a shootout in the World Cup. But they got off to a bad start when Kai Havertz’ stutter-step attempt was easily saved by Gill.
Paraguay looked the more confident side from the spot, coolly slotting their kicks away before Nick Woltemade missed with a tame effort. The Newcastle United striker nonchalantly walked up to the ball but he couldn’t bait Gill into moving early and saw his attempt saved.
The confidence with which the Paraguayans had taken their penalties evaporated once the game was on the line. Antonio Sanabria had the chance to seal it with the penultimate kick, but he screwed it wide.
Fabian Balbuena could still win it with the final kick after Nadiem Amiri’s successful attempt, but Manuel Neuer pulled off an excellent save to send it to sudden death.
The momentum had now completely swung in the opposite direction, but Jonathan Tah skied his penalty over the bar, handing Jose Canale the opportunity to write himself into World Cup folklore. The centre-back sent Neuer the wrong way, blasting his shot into the roof of the net to send Paraguay through to the round of 16.
The post-match scenes were a joy to behold as the Paraguayans celebrated wildly. But it was devastation for the Germans, who haven’t advanced past the last-32 of the competition since winning it in 2014. They’re going home early again, but France or Sweden await in the next round for the victors.
Morocco squeak past Netherlands
This one was too close to call beforehand, so it was fitting that it went down to the final penalty kick in a shootout in Guadalupe.
Morocco had the better of the chances in normal time, but it was the Netherlands who took the lead after Crysencio Summerville broke free to tee up Cody Gakpo for the breakthrough in the 72nd minute. The Liverpool forward was understandably emotional, scoring the goal just days after his unborn child died.
The Oranje could not hold onto their lead until the final whistle, though, as Chemsdine Telbi whipped in a perfect cross onto the head of Fulham defender Issa Diop, who diverted the ball past Bart Verbruggen.
Extra-time beckoned, but it brought very little in the way of entertainment. There was just one shot taken in the entire 30-minute period, but it was a massive one. Soufiane Rahimi found himself one-v-one with Verbruggen, but the Brighton goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save to send the game to penalties.
Neil El Aynaoui missed Morocco’s opening spot kick, but Justin Kluivert spared the Roma midfielder’s blushes by smacking the post with his effort. Rahimi was the beneficiary of a huge slice of luck when Verbruggen initially saved his shot, but it went in off the back of his heel.
Quinten Timber went on to the miss for the Dutch, giving Achraf Hakimi the chance to take the lead, but he also hit the post. Crysencio Summerville saw his kick saved before Ismael Saibari slotted the final penalty into the bottom corner.
Morocco are establishing themselves as major tournament specialists. Since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022, they have won AFCON earlier this year (albeit in strange circumstances) and claimed three of the last four African Nations Championships. Co-hosts Canada await in the next round.
Brazil overcome spirited Japan with comeback win
Brazil bounced back from a wretched first half to book their place in the round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Japan in Houston.
The Samurai Blue took a deserved lead through Kaishu Sano in the 29th minute. The midfielder robbed the ball in midfield before charging down Brazil’s throat and unleashing a beautiful daisy cutter for what will go down as one of the nation’s most famous goals at a World Cup.
Casemiro, who had already received a booking, was burned for pace and had to idly watch the ball go in as he struggled to get back. It was a surprise that Carlo Ancelotti didn’t take him at the interval following a wretched opening half, but the former Manchester United star repaid the faith in the 56th minute. The midfielder headed home the equaliser from an excellent cross by Bruno Guimarães.
Vinicius Junior hit the post shortly afterwards as Brazil went for the kill. Although Japan weathered the storm, they ultimately failed to put themselves back into position for the win, taking just one shot in the second half.
It seemed like they had done enough to take the game to extra time, but Ao Tanaka made a fatal error on the edge of his box, winning the ball before immediately relinquishing possession to Brazil. Bruno found Gabriel Martinelli in the box with a perfect pass, and the Arsenal forward bent the ball around goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and in off the post.
A heartbreaking way for Japan to exit the World Cup after impressing in all of their games this summer, but it’s Brazil who march on in search of their sixth star.
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