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Paraguay stuns Germany in a penalty shootout for the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup
By Kyle Hightower, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 29, 2026
· 4 min read
José Canale wasn’t in the starting lineup in either of his previous two appearances for Paraguay in this World Cup.He made his first start a memorable one.Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalt...
Key takeaway It was a major triumph for the landlocked South American country of 7 million people that's surrounded by soccer giants like Argentina and Brazil.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
San Antonio soccer fans are likely still buzzing from the shocking upset of Germany by Paraguay in the World Cup. While the match itself was played far from the Alamo City, the impact of this win will be felt by local fans who follow the sport. Paraguay's advancement to the round of 16 means they will face the winner of France and Sweden on Saturday in Philadelphia, and a win there could bring them back to the United States for a quarterfinal match. For San Antonio's own soccer enthusiasts, this Cinderella story may inspire interest in the remaining World Cup matches, potentially drawing larger crowds to local watch parties and gatherings. As the tournament continues, San Antonio fans will be keeping a close eye on the progress of underdog teams like Paraguay, and perhaps even drawing parallels to the city's own underdog stories in the world of sports.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? José Canale wasn’t in the starting lineup in either of his previous two appearances for Paraguay in this World Cup.He made his first start a memorable one.Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalt...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kyle Hightower, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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