The World Cup saves record in a single match
Tim Howard holds the official single-match saves record, credited by FIFA with 16 saves in the USA’s round-of-16 loss to Belgium on 1 July 2014.
The single-match leaders for a goalie record:
| Goalkeeper | Saves | Match | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Howard (USA, 2014) | 16 | vs Belgium | The official FIFA record, set in a game that went to extra time. |
| Eloy Room (Curaçao, 2026) | 15 | vs Ecuador | Equalled the all-time record; the most within 90 minutes, and the most with a clean sheet. |
| Ramón Quiroga (Peru, 1978) | 14 | vs Netherlands | The previous 90-minute high. |
Most saves in a single World Cup tournament
The keeper record for most saves across one World Cup belongs to Croatia’s Dominik Livaković, who made 25 saves at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Livaković carried Croatia to the semi-finals and a third-place finish, with his shot-stopping decisive in the knockout rounds.
His standout moment came in the round of 16 against Japan. He saved three penalties in the shootout, equalling the World Cup record for penalty saves in a single shootout.
The keeper records that last: clean sheets and Golden Gloves
The most enduring goalie record is for clean sheets, jointly held by Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton with 10 World Cup clean sheets each, both in 17 appearances.
The leaders for most World Cup clean sheets, according to FIFA’s records:
| Goalkeeper | Country | Clean sheets | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabien Barthez | France | 10 | 17 |
| Peter Shilton | England | 10 | 17 |
| Thibaut Courtois | Belgium | 8 | 17 |
| Sepp Maier | West Germany | 8 | 18 |
| Taffarel | Brazil | 8 | 18 |
| Hugo Lloris | France | 8 | 20 |
Clean sheets also win individual silverware. The Golden Glove (formerly the Yashin Award) goes to the best goalkeeper of each tournament.
Gianluigi Buffon kept five clean sheets to win it in 2006, and Iker Casillas matched that tally to take the award in 2010, both anchoring world-title runs.
See the full list of FIFA World Cup Golden Glove winners on the Wego blog.
The goalie records being chased at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is already rewriting the keeper record books, led by Eloy Room’s 15-save masterclass for Curaçao — the smallest nation ever to reach the finals.
Germany’s Manuel Neuer also made history, becoming the goalkeeper with the most World Cup appearances at 21, passing France’s Hugo Lloris.
With the knockout rounds still to come, two records are in play:
- Single-tournament saves: Livaković’s 25 is beatable for any keeper whose team goes deep, as shot volume climbs in the knockouts.
- Single-match saves: Room has already equalled the all-time mark in the group stage, so the next milestone is a keeper surpassing it outright.
Clean-sheet records are far safer. Barthez and Shilton’s 10 took a career of deep tournament runs to build, so expect those to survive 2026.
Want to watch the records fall in person?
The 2026 World Cup is hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, putting record-chasing keepers in stadiums from coast to coast.
If you’re planning a trip to catch the knockout rounds, start with flights to the main host cities:
- Flights to New York — track schedules into JFK.
- Flights to Dallas — track schedules into DFW.
- Flights to Los Angeles — track schedules into LAX.
- Flights to Mexico City — track schedules into MEX.
For somewhere to stay near the action, compare hotels in New York, hotels in Dallas and hotels in Mexico City.
Checking a connection or a delay on the way? Use the Wego flight tracker for live status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Cup saves record in a single match?
FIFA credits Tim Howard with 16 saves for the USA against Belgium in 2014, set in a game that went to extra time. Eloy Room equalled that record in 2026 — and his is the most in a match within 90 minutes and the most by a keeper who kept a clean sheet.
Who has the most saves in a single World Cup tournament?
Croatia’s Dominik Livaković, with 25 saves at the 2022 World Cup. His run included three penalty saves in the shootout win over Japan.
Which goalie has the most World Cup clean sheets?
Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton share the record with 10 clean sheets each. Both reached the mark in 17 World Cup appearances.
Did any keeper record fall at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Eloy Room equalled the all-time single-match saves record and set the mark for most saves with a clean sheet, while Manuel Neuer became the goalkeeper with the most World Cup appearances at 21.
Sources
- FIFA — Tim Howard, Most Saves in a World Cup Game
- ESPN — Curaçao Keeper Room Ties Howard’s World Cup Save Record
- CBS Sports — FIFA Stat Correction: Room Gets 16th Save, Tying Howard
- ESPN — FIFA World Cup 2026 Stats: Room’s Record, Neuer’s Appearances
- Sky Sports — Eloy Room Makes History With 15 Saves
- 101 Great Goals — Livaković’s 2022 World Cup Saves Record
- NBC — Livaković’s Penalty-Shootout Record vs Japan
- FIFA — Goalkeepers With Most Clean Sheets
- FIFA — Golden Glove-Winning Goalkeepers
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
