In an intense duel corresponding to the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Germany saw a momentary advantage slip away against Paraguay due to a VAR decision during the first half of extra time.
The score remained 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation. In the 105th minute, defender Jonathan Tah headed a corner kick and sent the ball into the back of the net, sparking the German team’s celebration.
However, the joy lasted only a few seconds. The referee received the call from the VAR, reviewed the play on the monitor and decided to invalidate the goal due to a foul on the Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
According to the review, German defender Waldemar Anton obstructed the goalkeeper’s movement during the execution of the corner, preventing him from contesting the ball on equal terms. After review, the goal was disallowed and the score returned to 1-1.
The decision generated immediate controversy inside and outside the stadium. While some analysts considered the penalty for interference on the goalkeeper correct, others believed that the contact was insufficient to invalidate the score.
Until that moment, Paraguay resisted German dominance with order and kept its chances of advancing to the round of 16 intact. For Germany, the disallowed goal represented a serious blow in a match in which they had assumed the offensive initiative.
The play immediately became one of the most talked about moments of the day and once again put the focus on the role of VAR in the knockout phases of the World Cup, where a review can change the course of a match.
At the close of this publication, the match ended 1-1 in extra time and the classification will be defined by kicks from the penalty spot. It will be updated.