Curaçao and Iran Goalkeepers Set World Cup Save Records

Curaçao’s 37‑year‑old goalkeeper Eloy Room matched Tim Howard’s World Cup record by making 15 saves in regulation time during a 0‑0 draw with Ecuador, earning the Player of the Match award and securing his team’s second point of the tournament.

Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand also shone, stopping seven shots to hold world No. 9 Belgium to a goalless draw and receiving a Player of the Match honor. The goalkeeper, who grew up in poverty in the Kurdish‑Lak region of Lorestan, has become a symbol of perseverance for the Iranian side amid logistical challenges on the road to Qatar.

Both performances highlight how under‑dog teams are keeping their World Cup hopes alive thanks to extraordinary goalkeeping displays.