The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 produced a night of stunning upsets and late drama as Morocco and Paraguay sent European heavyweights the Netherlands and Germany crashing out, while Brazil edged past Japan to seal their place in the Round of 16.
Morocco delivered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after both sides settled for a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The Atlas Lions held their nerve in the tense shootout to book their place in the next round, ending the Dutch campaign in heartbreaking fashion. The victory also etched Morocco’s name into the history books, making them the first African nation ever to defeat the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup.
The historic triumph underlined Morocco’s growing reputation on the global stage as they overcame one of Europe’s traditional football powerhouses.
Paraguay also emerged giant-killers, eliminating Germany in another dramatic penalty shootout after an intense knockout encounter.
La Albirroja displayed remarkable composure from the spot to secure their place in the Round of 16, extending their impressive World Cup run while condemning Germany to an early exit.
Brazil, however, avoided a major upset after defeating Japan 2-1 in a pulsating contest.
Gabriel Martinelli struck a dramatic late winner to send the five-time world champions into the Round of 16, where they will face either Norway or Ivory Coast.
The latest Round of 32 fixtures have dramatically reshaped the tournament, with Germany and the Netherlands becoming the latest European giants to suffer elimination.
Further details obtained by this online newspaper showed that Morocco and Paraguay produced two of the competition’s biggest upsets, proving that the knockout stage leaves no room for reputation as resilience and composure ultimately decided their fate.
