Germany vs Paraguay: what to know before the World Cup Round of 32

# Germany vs Paraguay: Your No-Stress Guide to the Round of 32

In a nutshell

A heavyweight meets a hard-hat. Germany — four-time world champions, packed with young stars like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala — face Paraguay, a stubborn, disciplined South American side built to defend and counter. Germany will have most of the ball and most of the chances; Paraguay's whole plan is to frustrate them and steal the game late. Germany are strong favourites, but this is a classic "can the underdog hang on?" tie.

Who's playing, in one line each

Germany — *Die Mannschaft*, in white shirts: four-time world champions and one of the sport's true giants, now young, fast and brimming with attacking talent under coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Paraguay — *La Albirroja*, in red-and-white stripes: a tough, well-organised South American team coached by Argentine tactician Gustavo Alfaro, who specialises in making big teams uncomfortable.

How they got here

Germany topped their group, looking like genuine title contenders with their fluid, fast attacking play. Paraguay came through the group stage the hard way — shaken by a heavy opening defeat to co-hosts USA, they regrouped under Alfaro, tightened up, and ground out the results they needed to advance. This is the Round of 32, a straight knockout: level after 90 minutes means extra time, and then a penalty shootout.

The probable lineups (and what they mean)

Think of a lineup as a team's *shape* — how many players defend, build, and attack.

Germany line up 4-2-3-1 (four defenders, two holding midfielders, three creators, one striker). Two anchors — Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlović — give license to a dazzling attacking band of Jamal Musiala, Deniz Undav and Florian Wirtz behind striker Kai Havertz, with veteran keeper Manuel Neuer behind captain Joshua Kimmich. It's built to attack relentlessly.

Paraguay line up 4-4-2 (four defenders, four midfielders, two strikers). Alfaro's side defends in two compact banks of four, stays patient, and breaks fast through Miguel Almirón and the wide players once they win the ball. Captain Gustavo Gómez marshals a back line full of set-piece threat. It's a setup designed to frustrate, then punish.

*Heads-up: these are predicted XIs based on the latest reporting. Coaches often tweak them an hour before kickoff, so treat them as the most likely starting point, not gospel. Germany are without the injured Nico Schlotterbeck, with Antonio Rüdiger alongside Jonathan Tah; left-back Nathaniel Brown is a late fitness call, and Leroy Sané offers an attacking alternative from the bench.*

What to expect (even if you've never watched soccer)

Expect Germany on the front foot and Paraguay defending deep. Germany will keep the ball and probe for openings through Wirtz and Musiala — two of the most exciting young dribblers in the world. When one of them gets the ball in space between the lines, that's the moment to watch. Their challenge is patience: picking the lock of a packed defence without getting caught out behind.

Paraguay won't try to match Germany for possession. They'll sit deep, defend their box bravely, and look to spring Almirón and the strikers on the counter — and they carry a real threat from corners and free kicks, where their tall defenders attack the ball. The single question the match will answer: can Paraguay's disciplined wall and set-piece danger keep them in it long enough to nick a result — or will Germany's quality simply be too much?

Players to watch

Florian Wirtz (Germany, attacking midfielder, No. 17) — Germany's creative heartbeat, a Liverpool playmaker who threads defence-splitting passes and scores big goals. The man most likely to unlock a stubborn Paraguay.

Jamal Musiala (Germany, attacking midfielder, No. 10) — a Bayern Munich magician with the ball glued to his feet; he glides past defenders in tight spaces. Pure entertainment, even for a first-time viewer.

Miguel Almirón (Paraguay, winger, No. 10) — Paraguay's engine and best-known face (a former Newcastle and current MLS star). Tireless and direct, he's the spark for every Paraguay counter-attack.

Julio Enciso (Paraguay, forward, No. 19) — a 22-year-old with a spectacular long-range shot and the creativity to manufacture a goal out of nothing. Paraguay's wildcard.

The bottom line

Germany are clear favourites — deeper, faster and far more talented, with a front line good enough to break down almost anyone. But Paraguay are exactly the kind of disciplined, physical, set-piece-savvy opponent that can drag a favourite into a long, nervous night. The likeliest outcome is a Germany win once they find the opening goal; the danger for them is a tight, frustrating game that stays scoreless long enough for Paraguay to believe — and maybe drag it to penalties.

When and where to watch

Monday, June 29, 2026 — Gillette Stadium, Boston, USA. Kickoff: 4:30 PM ET (USA) · 5:30 AM JST (Japan, Jun 30) · 5:30 AM KST (Korea, Jun 30).