Sports · World Cup 2026 · Round of 32
Germanyvs
Paraguay
Monday, June 29, 2026 · 4:30 p.m. ET · Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough, MA
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
My pick: Germany advance · locked 2026-06-28 10:25 UTCPrediction
Germany to win and advance. Julian Nagelsmann's side topped Group E despite a dead-rubber loss to Ecuador, and their goals have come from all over — ten across the group from seven scorers. Paraguay, by contrast, defended their way through Group D, grinding out a 1-0 over Turkey and a 0-0 with Australia after an opening thrashing by the USA. Gustavo Alfaro's team will sit deep and make Germany work, but the difference in attacking quality should eventually tell. 2-0 Germany.
The case for Germany
64% to winGermany have the deeper, more talented squad and a manager who trusts his attack, with Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz supported by the super-sub threat of Deniz Undav. If they move the ball quickly and stretch Paraguay's block, the goals should come — even with Nico Schlotterbeck's tournament-ending injury forcing a reshuffle at the back.
The case for Paraguay
13% to winParaguay are built to frustrate, defending deep and in numbers under Gustavo Alfaro and striking on the counter through Julio Enciso and Antonio Sanabria. They conceded just once in their last two group games, and if they keep it tight and force Germany into impatience, a knockout tie is exactly the kind of game that can swing on one moment or a shootout.
Both cases written 2026-06-28, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 23% belongs to the draw.
Germany 4-2-3-14-4-2 ParaguayThe briefing
Storylines
- Germany, Group E winners, meet a Paraguay side that edged through Group D on a miserly defence.
- Germany's ten group goals came from seven different scorers; Deniz Undav has three off the bench.
- Nico Schlotterbeck is out for the tournament with knee ligament damage; Antonio Rüdiger steps in.
- Paraguay are without the suspended Miguel Almirón, sent off against Turkey.
- Played in the open air at Boston Stadium (Gillette, Foxborough) for the late-afternoon kickoff.
The coaches
Julian Nagelsmann Germany
In charge since 2023, he favours a possession-based 4-2-3-1 and can hurt opponents from anywhere across the front line.
Gustavo Alfaro Paraguay
The Argentine has Paraguay hard-working and well-organised, set up to defend deep and strike on the counter.
Availability
| Nico Schlotterbeck | Out — knee ligament damage rules him out for the rest of the tournament | Sports Mole / Goal R32 previews · 2026-06-28 |
| Nathaniel Brown | Doubt — a minor injury concern at left-back | Sports Mole / Goal R32 previews · 2026-06-28 |
| Miguel Almirón | Out — suspended after his red card against Turkey | Sports Mole / Goal R32 previews · 2026-06-28 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock); the free Tubi simulcast carries Telemundo's Spanish feed. (CBS News / FOX Sports World Cup TV schedule, as of 2026-06-28)
Weather: Open-air at Boston Stadium (Gillette, Foxborough) for the late-afternoon kickoff — warm, humid New England summer conditions. (NWS Boston seasonal climatology, as of 2026-06-28)
Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco). (FIFA match appointment via Dailysports, 27 Jun 2026, as of 2026-06-28)
Venue: Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough, MA, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.
