Read 4 minutesUpdated: June 21, 2026 08:32 AM IST
Days after Curacao’s terrible start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing 1-7 to Germany, the smallest nation to qualify for the quadrennial tournament redeemed itself through their goalkeeper, Eloy Room.
The 37-year-old Curacao’s second Group E performance was inspired by a goalless draw against Ecuador at the Kansas City Stadium on Saturday night. The Netherlands-born goalkeeper was unstoppable as Ecuador unleashed an avalanche on target, making 27 shots in total, taking away the World Cup record for most shots saved in regulation time for only the second time. Room’s Player of the Match display also holds the record books since 1966 for the second-most saves by a goalkeeper at a World Cup.
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Saving 15 shots on the night, the Miami FC goalkeeper’s performance earned Curacao their first World Cup point in just their second appearance in the finals. A win over Ivory Coast in the league final next Friday would give them a shot at a magical knockout berth.
World record in the second match
Rumm’s 15 saves surpassed Peruvian goalkeeper Ramon Quiroga, who made 13 saves against the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup. Former USA goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made 16 saves in a 2014 World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, had just 16 saves, 12 of which came in regulation.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room (1) makes a save during the World Cup Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Jurga)
Born in Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Room developed through the academy of Eredivisie club Vitesse. After earning a single cap for the Netherlands at U20 level, he made his international debut for Curacao in 2015, making him the Caribbean nation’s most senior star.
Rumm decided to change nationality after chatting with then national team coach Patrick Kluivert, a veteran Dutch striker who also shared a Curacao connection through his mother.
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“The whole reason I chose to play for Curaçao was because of my childhood dream of winning the World Cup with Curaçao. [Patrick] Kluivert contacted me to play for Curacao, first of all, I was really honored that Kluivert called me because he is a big legend. I was surprised but really proud. I was one of the first guys who chose to play for Curaçao as a professional,” Room said in a FIFA interview.
“When I was a kid, we went there for vacations to see family. It was always a special moment to go there. The island is so beautiful. I’m so happy when you go there and I always feel at home. I still have family. Of course, my dad is from there. My mom also lived in Curaçao for many years when she was young. We had a lot of fun and very happy people when she was a kid. Put Curaçao on the map,” Room said.
“And now I think almost everyone in the world knows what Curacao is.”
They’ll also remember the 6-foot-3 goalie who put in a frenetic Saturday shift between the sticks in Kansas, powering Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup point.