Curaçao keeper Eloy Room made 15 saves vs. Ecuador — just shy of World Cup record

Curaçao, the smallest nation to ever compete in a World Cup, earned its first tournament point on Saturday night in Kansas City behind a heroic performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room.

The well-traveled 37-year-old made 15 saves in a 0-0 draw against Ecuador at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium. It’s the second-most saves in World Cup history, falling one short of Tim Howard’s record 16 for the U.S. in a Round of 16 match against Belgium in 2014.

“I think I need a statue in Curaçao,” Room said, grinning ear to ear while holding his Player of the Match trophy.

With the King and Queen of the Netherlands in attendance on Saturday night — even visiting and dancing with the players in the locker room afterward — that request might have legs.

Room and his Curaçao mates held a talented Ecuador team at bay. La Tricolor, as the South American team is known to its fans, attempted 27 shots ... and the significantly pro-Ecuador crowd was left shaking its collective head after a flurry of chances ended in futility.

Fans threw up their hands in frustration, shook their heads — some even screamed in Spanish for their coach to be fired.

At the final whistle, the Curaçao team mobbed Room in the penalty area before journeying some 40 yards behind him to celebrate with Curaçao fans in attendance.

“This feels like a victory right now for us,” Room said. “It’s the first point in the World Cup for us. It’s unreal. if you know the journey where we come from, and we’re now here.”

That journey began for Room in 2015. He made his debut with Curaçao after switching from representing his birth country to the nation of his familial heritage.

Room joined Curaçao for the early stages of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. That campaign fell short years before the tournament, but Room did not give up on his dream.

“I knew it back then it was a long road,” Room said. “People called me crazy when I switched from Holland to Curaçao. But I had a goal in mind.

“Everything people said (about the move) didn’t matter. And at the end, I’m here. So I think I was right.”

While Room spent the majority of his career playing in Holland, he is no stranger to soccer in the United States. He currently plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship, the second division of U.S. Soccer, and spent five seasons with the Columbus Crew, winning an MLS Cup in 2020.

Some here might remember that he started for the Crew in a match against Sporting KC at Sporting Park in April 2022, making three saves and keeping a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

Room has also played on American soil multiple times for Curaçao during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He a 13-save outing in a 1-0 win over Honduras in the Gold Cup in 2019.

While that was big, nothing compares to the bright lights of the World Cup.

Unfortunately for Room, Howard’s performance for Team USA remains No. 1 in the record books, as well as the hearts of many Americans. But there are two things about Room’s performance that he can hang his hat on.

One can’t ignore the fact that Howard conceded two goals that day in a losing effort against Belgium. That game also went into extra time, as it took place in the Round of 16, when matches can’t end in draws.

Room’s 15 saves came in 90 minutes. Howard had just 12 saves through 90 and the remaining four in 30 minutes of extra time. Room actually had 15 saves by the 80th minute Saturday, as Ecuador did not put another shot on target for the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time.

“I’m a little bit annoyed I’m not breaking the record of Tim Howard,” Room joked. “I think he was sweating at home.”

Here are some photos of Room, as taken by Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle photographers during Saturday’s game.

This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Curaçao keeper Eloy Room made 15 saves vs. Ecuador — just shy of World Cup record."