Paraguay wrote one of the most memorable pages in its history by eliminating Germany in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. After drawing 1-1 in regulation time and overtime, La Albirroja sealed its classification with a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, in which Orlando Gill was the great figure.
The victory represents much more than a ticket to the round of 16. Twenty-four years after the painful elimination suffered in Korea-Japan 2002, when Germany won 1-0 with a goal from Oliver Neuville in the 88th minute, the Guaraní team settled one of the most memorable pending scores in its World Cup history.
That match was etched in the memory of Paraguayan football. La Albirroja starred in a memorable defensive performance, led by José Luis Chilavert, Carlos Gamarra and Celso Ayala, and resisted German dominance for 88 minutes. However, when the match seemed to be heading into overtime, Neuville appeared to score the only goal of the game and eliminate Paraguay.
That same match also left another indelible image: Chilavert was close to surprising Oliver Kahn with a free kick that demanded the German goalkeeper and that could have become one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history.
Two decades later, soccer gave Paraguay the opportunity again.
The team led by Gustavo Alfaro sustained the match with order, sacrifice and tactical discipline. Germany controlled possession for much of the match, but found a solid defense that reduced the spaces and resisted each attack.
La Albirroja opened the scoring with a goal from Julio Enciso, while Kai Havertz equalized for Germany in the second half. In extra time, Jonathan Tah seemed to give the European team the classification with a header, but the VAR annulled the score when it was considered that Waldemar Anton had obstructed goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the execution of the corner kick.
The decision kept Paraguay alive and led the match to a penalty shootout.
There the figure of Gill emerged. The goalkeeper stopped two German shots and sustained the Paraguayan enthusiasm until José María Canale converted the final penalty that sparked the celebration of an entire country.
The goalkeeper’s performance had a special meaning. During the group stage he was the subject of criticism from the historic former goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who publicly questioned his leadership and communication on the field.
The controversy increased when Melissa Ávalos, Gill’s wife, responded on social media with a message in defense of the goalkeeper, questioning the former Paraguayan captain’s allegations and supporting the work done by her husband during the World Cup process.
Gill chose to respond on the field of play. His performance against Germany was the best of his career with the national team and made him one of the great protagonists of the 2026 World Cup.
Coach Gustavo Alfaro always maintained his confidence in the goalkeeper despite the criticism that arose during the tournament, a bet that ended up being decisive for Paraguay’s classification.
Paraguay, which returned to a World Cup after a 16-year absence, will now face the winner of the duel between France and Sweden in the round of 16. While he waits to meet his next rival, Orlando Gill has already been installed as one of the great heroes of the 2026 World Cup and as the man who led one of the greatest feats in the recent history of Paraguayan football.