Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room joked that he deserves a statue on the Caribbean island after a breathtaking performance that earned the team its first-ever World Cup point.
The 37-year-old shot-stopper made 15 saves in Saturday’s Group E match against Ecuador to keep Curacao’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.
His tally is the highest since 1966 by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match without extra time.
Curaçao wildly celebrated the 0-0 draw in Kansas City – days after a crushing 7-1 defeat to Germany in its World Cup debut.
“It means everything,” Room said. «It feels like a victory for us, you know. But now it means a lot. It’s the first point at the World Cup for us.»
«So it’s surreal when you know the journey of where we came from and now we’re here. And today we showed that we really have heart for the team. So it’s an incredible feeling.»
The Miami FC goalkeeper joked that he was disappointed to miss out on former US goalkeeper Tim Howard’s record of 16 saves, set by FIFA, in a match against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil that went to extra time.
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“I think he was sweating at home, you know, watching the game,” he said. «But I heard that it was also a record from a long time ago. So yes, I am proud of that.»
Room praised his teammates but cheekily suggested his performance should be set in stone.
“I’m also very proud of the team because again, we did it with the team,” he said. “I make the saves, but we fought as a team, including the players who came in.
“But I think I need a statue in Curaçao, I think now.”
Royal celebration
Room produced a stunning save in the opening minutes of the match at Arrowhead Stadium, denying Ecuador captain Enner Valencia as the striker looked certain to score.
He then produced save after save, continually thwarting the South Americans, who are ranked more than 50 places higher by FIFA.
“I think the first save was the most important save because it set the tone of the game,” he said.
«And when the ball went in, it was a tough game. So I think that was one of the best saves, but all the other saves I don’t even remember what they were like, so I had to watch them afterwards.»
Ecuador is not a pushover – it finished second in South American qualifying behind Argentina – but it is blunt in attack.
Curaçao is the smallest country to ever qualify for a World Cup, with a population of around 160,000, not much more than double the Saturday attendance of 68,598.
Dutch-born Room started his career in his native country, spending time at Vitesse, Go Ahead Eagles and PSV Eindhoven.
Now he plies his trade in the second tier of American football for Miami FC.
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Of Curaçao’s 26-man squad, led by experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, 25 were born in the Netherlands, and many play their football there.
The Caribbean island is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Saturday’s match at the home of NFL team Kansas City Chiefs was watched by the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, who wore a Curaçao shirt.
After the match, the royals danced and partied with the ecstatic team in the locker room.
«It was very special to meet them. Maxima gave me a little kiss… I hope my wife doesn’t hear it,» Room joked.
Germany, who defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier on Saturday, are now guaranteed to finish top of Group E. But Ivory Coast, Curacao and Ecuador are still battling for second place, which would guarantee a place in the last 32.
Room will feel that everything is possible now that Curaçao dares to dream.
Published on June 21, 2026
