Goalkeeper heroics drive upsets by underdogs at 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers from Cabo Verde, Curaçao and Iran have defied the odds at the 2026 World Cup, making a combined 29 saves to hold powerhouses Spain, Ecuador and Belgium to draws and stunning the soccer world.

Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room. [AP/Yonhap]

Underdog nations written off before a ball was kicked have been turning the 2026 North America World Cup group stage on its head, with goalkeepers leading the charge. Cabo Verde, Curaçao and Iran each faced far stronger opponents but saw their shot-stoppers set remarkable save records — as many as 15 in a single match — to lay the groundwork for stunning results.

The tournament's most talked-about storyline has been the performances of goalkeepers from small island nations. Cabo Verde and Curaçao each picked up points against Spain, Uruguay and Ecuador, defying the gloomy predictions of soccer analysts. The driving force behind both upsets was the sustained concentration and shot-stopping of their goalkeepers throughout 90 minutes.

The small African nation of Cabo Verde stunned everyone on June 16 when it held Spain to a 0-0 draw in their Group H opener. Veteran goalkeeper Bójinha, 40, kept a clean sheet by stopping all seven on-target shots from the Spanish attack.

Cabo Verde goalkeeper Bójinha directs his defense during the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Spain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 16. [Reuters/Yonhap]

Bójinha was named man of the match after using instinctive reflexes to deny Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte in quick succession late in the first half. He also set a record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup debut. His personal social media following, which had stood at around 50,000 before the match, surged to more than 14 million immediately afterward, drawing global attention.

Cabo Verde's run did not stop there. On Sunday, the team drew 2-2 with Uruguay in their Group H second match at Miami Stadium, keeping them third in the group with two points from two draws. The result means Cabo Verde can still eye a place in the round of 32 depending on the outcome of their final group game against Saudi Arabia.

Cabo Verde's Kevin Pina (No. 6) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Uruguay in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group H match at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday. [AFP]

Cabo Verde arrived against Uruguay tactically well-prepared, deploying a deep double defensive line and taking the lead through a Kevin Pina free kick.

They conceded twice late in the first half — to Maxi Araujo and Agustín Canobbio — to fall behind 2-1, but substitute Eliu Varela equalized after the break and Bójinha held firm against a relentless Uruguayan onslaught to secure the 2-2 draw.

Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room celebrates after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match against Ecuador at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday. [Reuters/Yonhap]

Curaçao, another soccer minnow, had its own historic moment thanks to its goalkeeper. The team, coached by Dick Advocaat, drew 0-0 with Ecuador — ranked 23rd in the world by FIFA — in their Group E second match Saturday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. With a population of roughly 150,000, Curaçao is the smallest nation by population ever to reach a World Cup finals. After being routed 1-7 by Germany in their opener, the draw against Ecuador gave Curaçao its first-ever World Cup point.

The match was essentially a duel between Ecuador's relentless attack and Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room. Ecuador attempted 28 shots — three times as many as Curaçao — with 15 of them on target. Room stopped every single one.

Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room holds up his jersey in celebration after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E match against Ecuador at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday. [Reuters/Yonhap]

Room's 15 saves rank second in World Cup history since official save counts began at the 1966 tournament. The all-time record belongs to United States goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made 16 saves against Belgium at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Howard made 12 of those in regulation and added four more in extra time, however, so measured by regulation alone, Room's tally stands as the World Cup record.

Despite the result leaving Curaçao fourth in the group, the draw kept alive their hopes of advancing to the round of 32 with a win over Ivory Coast in their final group game on Friday. Ecuador, meanwhile, now faces the daunting prospect of needing a result against Germany in their final match after failing to seal qualification against Curaçao.

Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand looks dejected after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G match against Belgium in Los Angeles. [Xinhua]

Iran, battling the fallout from its ongoing war with the United States, also earned a draw against European powerhouse Belgium on the strength of its goalkeeper. Iran held Belgium 0-0 Monday in their Group G second match at Los Angeles Stadium. Belgium pressed with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne leading the attack, but goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand proved an impenetrable wall, making seven saves.

Iran has faced extraordinary difficulties at this tournament. The United States restricted visas for some of the team's staff and officials, forcing the squad to base itself in Tijuana, Mexico, and commute across the border on match days. Despite those conditions, Iran has remained unbeaten in the group stage with its trademark suffocating defensive style, boosting its chances of advancing to the round of 32. Iran plays Egypt in its final group match on Saturday.

terry@heraldcorp.com