The 2026 FIFA World Cup produced a historic first, with two teams ranked in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings being eliminated in the first knockout round for the first time in the tournament’s history. Germany, in 10th place, and the Netherlands, in 8th place, both ended their campaigns on penalties, making the round of 16 one of the most dramatic knockout stages the competition has witnessed. Germany’s disappointing run at major tournaments continued after Paraguay stunned the four-time world champions on penalties. The game ended 1-1 after extra time and Germany believed they had found a winner in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner. However, after a VAR review, referee Jalal Jayed ruled out the goal, ruling that defender Waldemar Anton had interfered with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill in his preparations. The decision forced the contest into penalties, where Paraguay held their nerve to win 5-3. The defeat marked Germany’s first defeat FIFA World Cup elimination via penalties, having won each of the previous four shootouts in the competition. It was also only their second penalty shootout loss at a major international tournament, the first being against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final. The result also extended Germany’s struggles since lifting the 2014 World Cup, following group stage exits in the previous two editions. Later, Morocco wrote another memorable chapter in their World Cup journey by eliminating the Netherlands after a dramatic penalty shootout. The Dutch looked destined for the round of 16 after Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. But Morocco refused to budge, equalizing in stoppage time when Chemsdine Talbi headed home Issa Diop in the 91st minute. Neither side could find a winner during extra time, so the game went to penalties. Both teams missed two spot-kicks, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again showed his brilliance from 12 yards to save Crysencia Summerville’s shot. With a well-prepared shootout, Ismael Saibari calmly converted Morocco’s decisive penalty to seal a 3-2 win and send the African side through to the last eight. The joint exit of Germany and the Netherlands ensured a significant moment in FIFA World Cup history, as never before had two top-10 ranked nations been knocked out in the first round of the tournament’s knockout stage.
