World Cup Shockers: Underdogs Eliminate Stalwarts Germany, Netherlands

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage has burst into life with late goals, penalty shootout heroics and major upsets, as Norway, Paraguay and Morocco secured places in the Round of 16. While Norway booked their spot through a regulation-time victory, Paraguay and Morocco survived nerve-wracking penalty shootouts to continue their campaigns, underlining the unpredictable nature of the expanded 48-team World Cup .

Of the three teams that progressed, Norway were the only side to secure qualification within 90 minutes. The Scandinavian nation defeated Côte d'Ivoire 2-1 in a fiercely contested Round of 32 clash. Young winger Antonio Nusa opened the scoring before Ivorian substitute Amad Diallo leveled the match with an impressive solo effort. As extra time loomed, captain Erling Haaland delivered the decisive blow in the 86th minute, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament to send Norway through. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland then produced a crucial late save to preserve the victory.

Norway's reward is a blockbuster Round of 16 clash against five-time world champions Brazil . The Norwegians are expected to rely on their disciplined defensive structure and the attacking threat of Haaland and Nusa as they attempt to repeat their famous World Cup victory over Brazil in 1998. Brazil, however, remains among the tournament favorites and will present Norway's toughest challenge yet.

The biggest shock of the knockout stage came in Boston, where Paraguay stunned four-time champions Germany . The match finished 1-1 after extra time , with Julio Enciso giving Paraguay the lead before Kai Havertz equalized for Germany. The Germans believed they had secured victory when Jonathan Tah scored in extra time, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review. Paraguay capitalized on the reprieve and held their nerve in the shootout, winning 4-3 on penalties after José Canale converted the decisive spot-kick. The result marked one of the tournament's biggest upsets and ended Germany's campaign in dramatic fashion.

Meanwhile, Morocco continued their remarkable World Cup run by eliminating the Netherlands after another dramatic encounter. The Dutch took the lead through Cody Gakpo , but Morocco fought back with a stoppage-time equalizer to force extra time. With the score locked at 1-1 , the contest went to penalties, where goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again emerged as the hero. Morocco prevailed 3-2 in the shootout , with Ismael Saibari converting the winning penalty to spark celebrations among supporters.

Unlike Norway, Paraguay and Morocco did not win in regulation or extra time; instead, they earned progression through their composure from the penalty spot. Their success highlights the growing competitiveness of international football, where tactical discipline and mental strength can overcome traditional powerhouses.

The road ahead promises even greater challenges. Morocco will face Canada in a closely balanced Round of 16 fixture, while Paraguay await the winner of the France-Sweden clash. With established giants already falling and underdogs continuing to shine, the World Cup knockout stage is proving that reputation alone offers no guarantees on football's biggest stage.