The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has already witnessed a historic statistical feat, as two gripping penalty shootouts on the same day created a new tournament milestone.
Both Germany’s Round of 32 exit to Paraguay and Morocco’s victory over the Netherlands ended 1-1 after regular and extra time, before being decided by penalty shootouts. Remarkably, each shootout saw five missed penalties — matching the highest number ever recorded in a World Cup shootout.
In the Germany–Paraguay clash, Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, Antonio Sanabria, Jonathan Tah, and Fabián Balbuena all failed to convert from the spot. It was José Canale who finally sealed Paraguay’s triumph by scoring the decisive penalty.
Just a few hours later in Monterrey, the Netherlands and Morocco replicated the drama. After a tense series of misses, Ismael Saibari kept his composure to deliver the winning penalty, sending the Atlas Lions through to the last 16.
According to official records, this marks the first time in World Cup history that two shootouts featuring five missed penalties each have occurred on the same day. The combined tally of ten missed spot-kicks also establishes a new benchmark for the most unsuccessful penalties in a single day of World Cup action.
With 27 matches still to be played in the 2026 World Cup, there remains ample opportunity for more records to tumble. However, the knockout stage has already provided a dramatic and unforgettable chapter in the tournament’s rich history.
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