Was Jonathan Tah’s late winner wrongly disallowed in Germany vs Paraguay? VAR row erupts

Boston: A VAR controversy and a dramatic penalty shootout defined Paraguay’s stunning 4-3 penalty victory over Germany in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, as the European giants crashed out after a night of high tension and heartbreak.

The decisive flashpoint came in extra time when Germany believed they had scored a winning goal through Jonathan Tah. In the 102nd minute, a pinpoint cross from Joshua Kimmich found Tah, who powered a header past Orlando Gill. Germany celebrated wildly, only for VAR to intervene. After a lengthy review, the goal was disallowed due to Waldemar Anton’s interference with the Paraguay goalkeeper, ruling that Gill’s line of sight had been obstructed. The decision kept the match level and ultimately changed the course of the tie.

With the match ending 1-1 after extra time, the contest went to penalties—where chaos and nerves took over.

Penalty Shootout: Paraguay 4-3 Germany

Germany’s shootout began badly as Kai Havertz saw his effort saved by Orlando Gill, putting Paraguay immediately in control. Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala responded with composed finishes to keep Germany alive.

But the pressure swung again when Nick Woltemade had his penalty saved by Gill, before Nadiem Amiri converted to take it into sudden death.

In sudden death, Jonathan Tah blazed his effort over the crossbar, handing Paraguay the advantage.

For Paraguay, the shootout began strongly with goals from Mauricio and Gustavo Gómez, while Matías Galarza also converted confidently. Antonio Sanabria missed by firing wide, and Fabian Balbuena was denied by Manuel Neuer, keeping Germany briefly alive. In sudden death, José Canale held his nerve to score the decisive penalty.