World Cup 2026: Germany vs Paraguay Tips, Odds & Prediction

* Odds from Betway, correct at time of writing.

Germany take on Paraguay at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Monday, with kickoff at 22:30 CAT in this 2026 World Cup Round of 32 tie. Julian Nagelsmann's side topped Group E and start as heavy favourites, while Gustavo Alfaro's Paraguay reached the last 32 on their return to the World Cup after a sixteen year absence. For all our World Cup betting tips, head to our dedicated section.

Germany

Germany topped Group E with two wins from their opening two games before a much changed side were beaten by Ecuador in a dead rubber, so I am expecting Nagelsmann to restore his strongest eleven for the knockout. In my opinion the quality of Musiala, Wirtz and Sane in the final third is on a different level to anything Paraguay faced in the group stage. My one concern is at the back, where Nico Schlotterbeck is out for the rest of the tournament with ankle ligament damage and the defence looked vulnerable in the loss to Ecuador. Even so, I expect Germany to dominate the ball and pin Paraguay deep from the first whistle.

Predicted Lineup: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger; Nmecha, Musiala, Pavlovic, Brown; Sane, Havertz, Wirtz.

Paraguay

Paraguay reached the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010 by grinding out results, beating Turkey with a goal inside the opening minute and then holding Australia to a goalless draw to finish third in Group D. From my point of view Alfaro has built a disciplined, deep-lying side that defends in numbers, and captain Gustavo Gomez marshals a back line that kept clean sheets in each of its last two group games. Miguel Almiron returns from a one-match suspension, and along with Julio Enciso and Matias Galarza he carries Paraguay's main threat on the break. My read on this is that Paraguay will sit deep and try to frustrate Germany, but they offered very little going forward in the group and I struggle to see where a goal could come from.

Predicted Lineup: Gill; Caceres, Velasquez,  G. Gomez, Alderete, Maidana; Almiron, Cubas, Galarza, Enciso; Avalos.

Germany have far too much quality across the pitch and I expect them to break Paraguay down before the hour mark once the legs in that deep block begin to tire. Paraguay can stay in the contest for a while, but I do not see them carrying enough of a threat to get past Neuer and the German defence over ninety minutes. My forecast: Germany 2 Paraguay 0.

BTTS: No (1.77)

I am backing BTTS: No and my read on this is that Paraguay simply do not have the attacking quality to break down Germany while chasing the game. They managed only two goals across the entire group stage and will set up to contain rather than create here. With Germany likely to control possession and Paraguay sitting deep, I expect a clean sheet to hold at one end.