Fans across Germany experienced heartbreak as their national team was eliminated from the World Cup in a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Paraguay in the Round of 32. The defeat dashed hopes of repeating their 2014 championship title.
In watch parties throughout Berlin, supporters watched anxiously as Paraguay's José Canale scored the decisive penalty. Videos circulating online captured the somber mood in German fan gatherings, with many fans showing visible disappointment. At one event, fans initially believed goalkeeper Olive Baumann had made a crucial save, only to see the ball deflect in, leading to stunned silence.
Reports described fans reacting with disbelief, some covering their faces with their hands while others began to leave. Despite the loss, some fans displayed sportsmanship by clapping.
Germany, considered a strong contender at the start of the tournament, had a strong group stage performance, including a decisive 7-1 victory against Curacao and a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. However, their momentum was disrupted by a come-from-behind loss to Ecuador on June 25.
During the match against Paraguay, Germany fell behind in the 42nd minute when Julio Enciso scored with a header. Germany equalized in the 54th minute with a header from Mai Havertz, forcing the game into a penalty shootout where they were ultimately defeated.
This early exit follows a period of mixed results for Germany in recent World Cups, having struggled to advance past the group stages in both 2018 and 2022 after their 2014 victory.