Germany - Paraguay / 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Germany vs. Paraguay Round of 16 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! Kick-off for the match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, is at 10:30 PM CET.

Four-time world champions Germany have advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since their triumphant 2014 campaign in Brazil. In the Round of 16 clash at Foxborough Stadium, they face an unpredictable Paraguay side, who are making their first appearance among the world's elite since 2010.

While Germany comfortably topped their group, the team's morale took a slight hit after an unexpected 2-1 loss to Ecuador in their final group stage match, ending an impressive eleven-game winning streak. Coach Julian Nagelsmann, however, firmly dismissed any speculation of underestimating opponents, emphasizing that his players must immediately put this setback behind them and fully concentrate on the playoffs.

Since winning the title in 2014, Germany has experienced several unexpected exits in major tournaments, losing four of their last nine World Cup matches. Despite this cautionary trend, they remain among the top favorites for overall victory.

Paraguay secured their progression from the group stage with a goalless draw against Australia, though their performance didn't particularly impress fans. The South Americans created minimal dangerous opportunities throughout the entire match.

Furthermore, they are haunted by the historical fact that they have yet to score a single goal in their five previous World Cup knockout stage matches. On the other hand, they once successfully leveraged a defensive strategy into significant success, reaching the coveted quarterfinals at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Their head-to-head record suggests that fans can expect a closely contested affair. Their last encounter in 2013 resulted in a thrilling and highly entertaining 3-3 draw. However, Germany has historically performed much better in World Cups, maintaining a strong success rate against South American opponents, although their recent loss to Ecuador ended a four-game winning streak against CONMEBOL teams.

One of Germany's key tactical weapons in the tournament is striker Deniz Undav. He emerged as a highly effective super-sub in the group stage, scoring three goals and providing two assists in less than 90 minutes of playing time. Paraguay's offensive counter-attacks will primarily rely on Matías Galarza, who has found the net in two of his last three international appearances.

The German coaching staff is grappling with several forced absences. Nathaniel Brown and the talented Lennart Karl remain sidelined due to health issues, while defensive stalwart Nico Schlotterbeck is out for the rest of the tournament with a nasty ankle injury. On the other side, Paraguay could be significantly weakened by the uncertain availability of defender Omar Alderete, and coach cannot count on the suspended Diego Gómez in the starting lineup due to a card accumulation from previous matches.

Germany is expected to take control of the game from the outset, aiming for an early goal to break down Paraguay's defensive wall, while the South Americans will patiently await counter-attacking opportunities.