Two penalty shootouts, two of the tournament's biggest names eliminated. June 29 produced the two biggest shocks of the Round of 32 at World Cup 2026: four-time champions Germany lost 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw in Foxborough, and the Netherlands fell 3-2 on penalties to Morocco after their own 1-1 draw in Mexico. Elsewhere the same day, Brazil beat Japan 2-1 in Houston. Here is the WorldCupElite recap of both shootouts and what they mean for the bracket.

---

June 29 Round of 32 Results at a Glance

  • Germany 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay won 4-3 on penalties) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
  • Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (Morocco won 3-2 on penalties) — Mexico
  • Brazil 2-1 Japan — NRG Stadium, Houston

Knockout football at its most brutal: two penalty shootouts on the same day, and two of the tournament's most storied nations heading home. Let's break it down.

---

Germany 1-1 Paraguay (Paraguay Win 4-3 on Penalties): Four-Time Champions Stunned

Germany's Round of 32 tie against Paraguay in Foxborough finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and went all the way to a shootout — one Paraguay won 4-3. It is one of the biggest shocks of the tournament: a four-time World Cup-winning nation eliminated by a side appearing in just its second-ever World Cup knockout round.

What It Means

Paraguay's reward is a Round of 16 meeting with France on July 4 in Philadelphia. For Germany, it is a bitterly early exit from a tournament they arrived at as one of the seeded favourites.

---

Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (Morocco Win 3-2 on Penalties): Atlas Lions Roar Again

The Netherlands were the second seeded European side to fall on penalties the same day, drawing 1-1 with Morocco before losing the shootout 3-2. It is another statement result for a Moroccan side that has now beaten a major European nation in the knockout rounds of consecutive World Cups.

What It Means

Morocco advance to face co-host Canada in the Round of 16 on July 4 in Houston. The Netherlands' tournament ends at the Round of 32.

---

Also on June 29: Brazil 2-1 Japan

In Houston, Brazil beat Japan 2-1 to reach the Round of 16, where they will meet Norway on July 5 in East Rutherford. Japan's tournament ends at the Round of 32.

---

The Bigger Picture: Shockwaves Through the Bracket

Two penalty shootouts, two European heavyweights out, on the same day — June 29 reshaped the top half of the World Cup 2026 knockout bracket. Germany and the Netherlands arrived as seeded favourites; Paraguay and Morocco leave as the story of the round, and both now carry real belief into the Round of 16.

WorldCupElite will track every knockout result and trending storyline as World Cup 2026 reaches its decisive phase. Check our live dashboard for day-by-day win-probability trends, and the fixtures hub for every Round of 32 result.

---

What's Next

The Round of 32 continued over the following days before the Round of 16 kicked off July 4-7, headlined by Canada vs Morocco and France vs Paraguay on July 4, Brazil vs Norway and Mexico vs England on July 5, and USA vs Belgium and Portugal vs Spain on July 6. Full details are in our Round of 16 preview.

---

Official References & Links