The 2026 FIFA World Cup has made history, as two teams in the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings were eliminated from the opening round for the first time in the tournament’s history. Germany, ranked 10th, and the Netherlands, ranked eighth, both saw their campaigns end on penalties, making the Round of 32 one of the deadliest the tournament has ever seen. Germany’s disappointing run at major tournaments continued after Paraguay stunned the world on four occasions in a penalty shoot-out. The game ended 1-1 after extra time, with Germany hoping to find the winner in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed in a corner. However, after a VAR review, referee Jalal Jayed disallowed the goal, after deciding that defender Waldemar Anton had obstructed Paraguayan player Orlando Gill in the build-up. The decision forced the match into penalties, with Paraguay holding on to win 5-3. This was Germany’s first defeat FIFA World Cup won on penalty kicks, having won each of the previous four matches. It was also their second defeat on penalties in a major international competition, the first being against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship. The result further deepened Germany’s struggles since lifting the World Cup in 2014, following group exits in the previous two rounds. After that, Morocco recorded another memorable chapter in their World Cup campaign by eliminating the Netherlands after a penalty shoot-out. The Dutch looked set for the Round of 16 after Cody Gakpo’s foul in the 72nd minute. But Morocco refused to give up, finding a goal in stoppage time when Chemsdine Talbi’s cross was headed in by Issa Diop in the 91st minute. Neither side found a winner in extra time, taking the game to penalties. Both teams conceded two goals, but Moroccan goalscorer Yassine Bounou again showed his brilliance from 12 yards by saving Crysencio Summerville’s effort. The shot is fine, Ismael Saibari coolly converted a penalty for Morocco to win 3-2 and send the African team into the round of 16. The joint exit of Germany and the Netherlands led to one of the most important moments in the history of the FIFA World Cup, as two of the top 10 nations were eliminated in the first round of the final tournament.
