Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room sets World Cup saves record in 0-0 draw with Ecuador

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made a record 15 saves in regulation time during his team's goalless draw against Ecuador at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. The performance earned Room the Player of the Match award and gave Curacao their first point in their debut World Cup campaign.

Room's 15 saves surpassed the previous regulation-time record of 13 held by Peru's Ramón Quiroga, set in 1978 against the Netherlands. The all-time World Cup record for saves in a match, including extra time, remains 16 by USA goalkeeper Tim Howard in 2014 against Belgium, but 12 of those came in regulation time.

Curacao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup by population, had lost their opening Group E match 7-1 to Germany. Against Ecuador, they faced 27 shots, with Room saving 15, while Ecuador also hit the post twice. The result keeps Curacao's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive; a win over Ivory Coast in their final group match would give them a chance.

Room, 37, was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and represented the Netherlands at U20 level before switching allegiance to Curacao in 2015 after a conversation with then-national team coach Patrick Kluivert, who also has Curacaoan heritage. Room told FIFA: 'The whole reason that I chose to play for Curacao is that I had a dream as a little kid to make it to the World Cup with Curacao. When Kluivert contacted me to play for Curacao, first of all, I was really honored that Kluivert called me because he's a big legend. I was surprised but also really proud.'

Room, who plays club football for Miami FC in the USL Championship, described his deep family connection to the island: 'My father's from there. My mother also lived in Curacao for a lot of years when she was younger. We have a deep connection with the island, so I'm so happy to give something back to the people and put Curacao on the map.'