A 37-year-old goalkeeper from a nation of 158,000 people delivered one of the great individual performances in World Cup history — and gave Curaçao its first-ever point.
It took Eloy Room three minutes to announce himself to the World Cup. Ecuador’s Enner Valencia — the nation’s all-time top scorer — rose at the back post in Kansas City and headed firmly toward goal. Room dived full stretch and tipped it around the post. From that moment, the 37-year-old goalkeeper seemed to operate on a frequency no one else could reach. He would go on to make 15 saves in 90 minutes, a record for any goalkeeper in a World Cup match since records have been kept dating back to 1966 — and the most by any keeper in regulation time in tournament history. Curaçao held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw on June 21, earning the tiny Caribbean nation its first point in its maiden World Cup appearance.
“Of course, as a goalkeeper, you grow in the game with the saves. But I think the first one was the most important save. And after that, I knew no ball was going to go in today.” — Eloy Room, post-match, TNT Sports, June 21, 2026
The stat line tells part of the story. Ecuador — ranked more than 50 places above Curaçao and expected to win comfortably — generated an expected-goals total of 2.27. They had 28 attempts in all, 15 of which were classed as genuinely dangerous. Room saved every one that was on target. For context: Tim Howard’s famous 16-save performance for the United States against Belgium in the 2014 round of 16 came over 120 minutes. Room reached 15 in 90. FIFA subsequently confirmed a 16th save for a deflected cross, drawing Room level with Howard’s record — but achieved in regulation time alone.
15 saves in 90 minutes — the most by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match since records began in 1966. With a FIFA-confirmed 16th save for a deflected cross, Room equalled Tim Howard’s single-game record, set over 120 minutes in 2014.
Curaçao’s story at this World Cup is one of the tournament’s most remarkable subplots. With a population of just 158,000 — the smallest nation ever to qualify — they arrived in the United States having conceded seven goals to Germany in their Group E opener. Room had actually scored his place in history once already that day, setting up a first-ever World Cup goal for the Blue Wave. But it was Saturday’s draw that truly changed how the world saw this island side. Room, who plays his club football for USL Championship side Miami FC, saw his Instagram following jump from 122,000 to 724,000 within an hour of the final whistle.
“Maybe Germany came too early. That day they were simply out of our league, but today the team was standing as it should have been standing. They were fighting like lions, and then you see what you can achieve against a team that’s playing on a very high level with very high individual levels of the players.” — Dick Advocaat, Curaçao head coach (via Reuters, June 21, 2026)
With two points now on the table and a final Group E fixture against Ivory Coast on June 25 in Philadelphia, Curaçao’s fairytale remains alive. Ecuador, meanwhile, must beat Germany to keep their own knockout hopes breathing. Room, for his part, had a clear sense of what he had earned — and what he expected in return. “I think in 40 years I will remember this, it will be insane,” he told reporters. “I think I need a statue in Curaçao now.”
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