Curaçao earns first World Cup point as goalkeeper Eloy Room makes 15 saves

Curaçao drew 0‑0 with Ecuador in a Group E match at Kansas City Stadium, securing the Caribbean island’s first ever FIFA World Cup point. Goalkeeper Eloy Room stopped 15 shots, the second‑most saves recorded in regular‑time World Cup history, narrowly missing Tim Howard’s record of 16.

The result left Curaçao in fourth place with one point, still in contention to reach the knockout stage if they defeat Ivory Coast in their final group game. Germany already leads the group, while Ecuador sits third. The draw also marked only the third goalless meeting between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF nations at a World Cup.

Room, a 37‑year‑old born in the Netherlands and playing for Miami FC, became a national hero as his performance kept Curaçao’s World Cup campaign alive, an unprecedented achievement for the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament.