Germany vs Paraguay prediction.Four-time World Cup winners Germany take on Paraguay in the Round of 32 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough on Monday, 29 June 2026 (22:30 SAST (Monday, 29 June 2026)). Germany topped Group E despite a final-day 2-1 defeat to Ecuador. Musiala, Wirtz and Undav lead Germany; Almirón and Enciso drive Paraguay. Our prediction: Germany to win. Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 32 |
| Date & kick-off | Monday, 29 June 2026 at 22:30 SAST (Monday, 29 June 2026) |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston area), Massachusetts, USA |
| How they qualified | Germany: Group E winners (6pts; beat Curaçao 7-1, beat Ivory Coast 2-1, lost Ecuador 2-1). Paraguay: Group D (3pts; lost USA 1-4, beat Turkey 1-0, drew Australia 0-0). |
| Format | Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out. |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
Germany’s unfinished business vs Paraguay’s counter-attacking threat
Germany enter the knockout stage carrying the sting of their 2-1 defeat to Ecuador on Match Day 3 — a result that confirmed Ecuador’s qualification and provided a chastening reminder that no lead is safe in this World Cup. But context matters: Julian Nagelsmann’s side had already secured Group E top spot before that match, and the rotated XI they fielded was fully expected. The first-choice lineup, with Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav restored, represents one of the tournament’s most exciting attacking combinations.
Defensively, Germany make one enforced change from their best XI: Nico Schlotterbeck remains absent after the ankle ligament tear he suffered against Ivory Coast on Match Day 2. Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) continues alongside Jonathan Tah in central defence. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic provide the midfield platform, with Felix Nmecha linking the phases of play. Manuel Neuer remains in goal.
Paraguay’s path through Group D was built on resilience and tactical discipline. A heavy 4-1 defeat to the United States on Match Day 1 could have broken their confidence, but Gustavo Alfaro’s side regrouped to beat Turkey 1-0 and hold Australia to a goalless draw in their final group game. Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso are the creative heartbeat in midfield and behind the striker, capable of creating moments of genuine quality on the counter-attack. Gabriel Ávalos leads the line. Captain Gustavo Gómez marshals a defence that has shown it can frustrate quality opposition.
Availability
| Player | Status |
| Nico Schlotterbeck (Germany, CB) | OUT — ankle ligament tear vs Ivory Coast. Tournament over. Rüdiger steps in. |
Team news and expected line-ups
Germany: First-choice XI returns after MD3 rotation. Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz start. Undav leads. Rüdiger and Tah in central defence (Schlotterbeck out). Kimmich anchors midfield.
Paraguay: No suspension concerns. Almirón and Enciso drive. Avalos leads. Gómez marshals defence. Gill in goal.
| Germany (4-2-3-1) | Paraguay (4-4-2) |
| Neuer (GK) | Gill (GK) |
| Kimmich (RB) | Cáceres (RB) |
| Tah (CB) | Gómez G (CB) |
| Rüdiger (CB) | Alderete (CB) |
| Raum (LB) | Maidana (LB) |
| Pavlovic (DM) | Cubas (RM) |
| Nmecha (DM) | Villasanti (CM) |
| Musiala (RW) | Almirón (CM) |
| Wirtz (AM) | Enciso (LM) |
| Havertz (LW) | Sosa (AM) |
| Undav (ST) | Avalos (ST) |
Key stats
- Germany: Group E winners on 6pts. Beat Curaçao 7-1 (MD1), beat Ivory Coast 2-1 (MD2, Undav late winner), lost Ecuador 2-1 (MD3 — rotated XI).
- Germany: scored 10 goals in the group stage. Most in Group E.
- Jamal Musiala: Germany’s most creative player. Returns to starting XI.
- Florian Wirtz: playmaker and goal threat. Returns to starting XI.
- Kai Havertz: versatile attacker. Returns to starting XI.
- Deniz Undav: scored the late winner vs Ivory Coast from the bench in MD2. Leads the line.
- Nico Schlotterbeck: OUT — ankle ligament tear. Antonio Rüdiger steps in.
- Germany form (last 5): W W D W L.
- Paraguay: Group D on 3pts. Lost USA 1-4 (MD1), beat Turkey 1-0 (MD2), drew Australia 0-0 (MD3).
- Paraguay: scored the fastest goal of World Cup 2026 vs Turkey (64 seconds).
- Miguel Almirón: creative engine. Experienced midfielder.
- Julio Enciso: Paraguay’s most technically gifted attacker.
- Gabriel Ávalos: leads Paraguay’s attack.
- Paraguay form (last 5): W L W W L.
- H2H: Germany 1-0 Paraguay (2002 World Cup R16, Oliver Neuville), Germany 3-3 Paraguay (2013 friendly).
Head-to-head
Germany have beaten Paraguay in their most significant previous encounter: a 1-0 win in the 2002 World Cup Round of 16, sealed by a late Oliver Neuville goal. A 2013 friendly ended 3-3. Germany enter this fixture with the historical edge in competitive meetings.
| Date | Result |
| 25 June 2002 | Germany 1–0 Paraguay (2002 World Cup Round of 16, Sapporo) |
| 2013 | Germany 3–3 Paraguay (International Friendly) |
Current form
| Team | Last 5 (inc. WC group stage) |
| Germany | W W D W L — 10 goals in group stage; lost MD3 with rotated XI |
| Paraguay | W L W W L — beat Turkey; drew Australia to qualify |
Our prediction
Germany with their first-choice XI — Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz and Undav in tandem — is a significantly different proposition from the rotated side that lost to Ecuador. Their attacking depth, midfield quality, and ten group-stage goals mark them as one of the tournament’s strongest outfits when operating at full strength.
Paraguay will make this difficult. Almirón and Enciso can hurt Germany on the counter, and their defensive organisation under Alfaro has been disciplined. But they face a Germany attack that has scored seven times against Curaçao alone.
Germany’s superior depth, the return of all their creative starters, and the historical knockout precedent from 2002 all point in one direction.
Our prediction: Germany to win.
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 2330 Hrs UTC on 29/06/2026.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the Germany vs Paraguay event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Germany vs Paraguay kick off?
Kick-off is at 22:30 SAST (Monday, 29 June 2026) on Monday, 29 June 2026, at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston area), Massachusetts, USA.
Why did Germany lose to Ecuador in the group stage?
Germany fielded a rotated XI in their final Group E match against Ecuador on Match Day 3, having already secured qualification and group top spot. Ecuador won 2-1. Germany’s first-choice players, including Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz and Sané, are restored for this knockout fixture.
Have Germany and Paraguay met at the World Cup before?
Yes. Germany beat Paraguay 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup Round of 16 in Sapporo, Japan. The winner was an Oliver Neuville goal in added time. That remains the only competitive meeting between the two nations.
What is Paraguay’s World Cup record?
Paraguay reached the Round of 16 in 2002 and 2006 and the quarter-finals in 2010. This 2026 tournament is one of their stronger recent qualifying campaigns, having progressed from a group containing the United States, Australia and Turkey.
What happens if Germany vs Paraguay is level after 90 minutes?
As a knockout fixture, the match goes to 30 minutes of extra time if level after 90 minutes. If still level after extra time, the winner is decided by a penalty shoot-out.
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