Curacao's veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room has set a new World Cup record, making an astonishing 15 saves in his team's 0-0 draw against Ecuador. This remarkable performance marks a historic moment for Curacao in their first-ever World Cup appearance.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams, has already delivered compelling storylines, and Curacao's debut has been no exception. While Cape Verde held tournament favorites Spain to a draw and Qatar secured their first-ever World Cup point, it was 37-year-old Room who stole the spotlight with his heroic display between the posts.
According to Opta, Room's 15 saves in a 90-minute match is the most recorded since statistics began in 1966. This surpasses the previous record of 16 saves made by Tim Howard for the USA against Belgium in 2014, though that game went into extra time.
Curacao, an island nation with a population of just 98,000, qualified for their maiden World Cup under former Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat. The team, drawing many players from its Dutch diaspora, topped their qualifying group ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda. Room himself has strong ties to the Netherlands, having played for top clubs like PSV Eindhoven and Vitesse Arnhem before joining Miami FC.
