The 2026 FIFA World Cup is becoming a tournament where reputations count for little and fearless underdogs are rewriting football history.
After a group stage that already produced several surprises, the Round of 32 has delivered two of the competition’s biggest shocks. Morocco knocked out the Netherlands and Paraguay eliminating four-time champions Germany in dramatic penalty shootouts. The results have reinforced the belief that no team can rely solely on pedigree in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Morocco once again proved why African football continues to command global respect. After battling the Netherlands to a 1-1 draw through extra time, the Atlas Lions held their nerve to win the shootout 3-2 and book a place in the Round of 16. The victory came against a Dutch side a supercomputer had favoured to progress, highlighting Morocco’s resilience and ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
The North Africans have steadily built a reputation as giant-slayers since their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, and their latest triumph suggests that achievement was no fluke. They will now face Canada with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Stunning Upset
Paraguay produced an equally memorable upset by sending Germany home after a gripping contest that ended 1-1 before the South Americans prevailed 4-3 on penalties.
Goalkeeper Orlando Gill emerged as Paraguay’s hero, saving crucial spot-kicks to hand his country its first World Cup knockout victory over Germany. The win also ended Germany’s perfect record in World Cup penalty shootouts and marked one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.
Coach Gustavo Alfaro’s disciplined defensive approach frustrated Germany throughout the match, while Julio Enciso’s goal and Gill’s heroics ensured Paraguay punished every German mistake. Germany even thought they had scored a winning goal in extra time before VAR ruled it out, paving the way for the dramatic shootout.
The two upsets underline a growing trend at the 2026 World Cup, where tactical discipline, organisation and belief have often outweighed star power. Traditional football giants are discovering that every knockout match is a genuine test, regardless of FIFA rankings or past achievements.
With African representatives such as Morocco, Ghana, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt and Cape Verde all reaching the Round of 32, and nations like Paraguay continuing to upset the established order, the tournament has become one of the most unpredictable in World Cup history.
As the knockout rounds continue, Morocco and Paraguay have already sent a clear message to the remaining favourites: in this World Cup, the underdogs are no longer content with competing—they are determined to conquer.
