Eloy Room Sets Record with 15 Saves in FIFA World Cup Match
Curaçao's Historic Draw Against Ecuador
Eloy Room, the goalkeeper for Curaçao, became an unexpected hero during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, achieving a remarkable world record in his team's match against Ecuador on June 20 at Kansas City Stadium. Room's outstanding performance helped the Caribbean nation secure its first-ever point in the history of this prestigious tournament. With 15 saves, he played a crucial role in the 1-1 draw, giving Curaçao a fighting chance to advance to the Round of 32 in their final group stage match against Ivory Coast on July 25, despite their earlier 0-0 loss.
Eloy Room's Record-Breaking Performance
Room's impressive 15 saves set a new record for the most saves by a goalkeeper in regulation time during a FIFA World Cup match. The only player with more saves in a single match throughout the tournament's 96-year history is Tim Howard, who recorded 16 saves for the USA against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup, which went into extra time. Room's achievement surpasses a 48-year-old record for the most saves in 90 minutes, a statistic tracked since 1996.
Most Saves In Regulation Time Of A FIFA WC Match (According to OPTA)
| Player | Saves | Team | Opponent | Year |
| Eloy Room | 15 | Curaçao | Ecuador | 2026 |
| Ramon Quiroga | 14 | Peru | Netherlands | 1978 |
| Stoyan Yordanov | 12 | Bulgaria | Morocco | 1970 |
Currently, Room plays for Miami FC, a team in the United States' second division. He developed his career at Vitesse, where he played from 2008 to 2017 after coming through their academy. This historic point for Curaçao is significant, as they are the smallest nation by both population and land area to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. In a related note, Cape Verde, the second smallest nation by land and third least populated, also earned their first point against Spain earlier this week, with their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha receiving the Player of the Match award.