r/worldcup • u/jaxstan19 • 26d ago
📰News Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room makes World Cup history with 15 saves
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2026/06/20/eloy-room-world-cup-saves-record-curacao/90625744007/113
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u/Mojo-man 26d ago
Why are all these late 30s/early 40s small island goalkeepers such machines? 😄
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u/_Lucille_ 26d ago
I wonder if it's because their normal team isn't that good which is why they get loads of practice in.
Someone who would play in a loaded team can probably take a 5 minute power nap and no one would notice.
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u/AI_moderated_failure France 26d ago
This is likely the case, if your offense and defense is generally poor you will get a lot of practice saving goals, and all that experience is concentrated on one person so they're probably the strongest individual player on a lot of the smaller teams.
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u/Full_Location3199 26d ago
Respect Eloy Room? He had a very very solid career in MLS. I would call him an MLS legend.
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u/BigMikeArnhem 26d ago
He was clearly talented from the beginning. He is a youth product of my club, played a couple of seasons as a first keeper but was unlucky that it was at a time that the club was declining hard. A very decent Eredivisie keeper.
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u/OpinionPutrid1343 26d ago
There is a worst team at this World Cup. And it‘s not Curacao. That alone is a huge achievement already.
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u/mayrln 26d ago
It's Turkey
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u/leijgenraam 26d ago
Tunesia has lost both games by 4 goals. I think they're worse.
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u/machine4891 25d ago
They are, and Haiti is second worse with 0-4 in goals. Turkey is 3rd with 0-3. And tall order in front all of 3 because Curacao faces Ivory Coast, Turkey USA and Haiti Morocco. All more chances to lose way more goals.
Turkey is the biggest disappointment, though.
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u/notyermommy 25d ago
The fact that Türkiye is in the same conversation as Haiti and Curaçao is absolutely humiliating for them. And they’re playing the most in form attacking team of the three. Scenes when they leave the cup with the worst goal differential.
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u/King_Scorpia_IV 26d ago
Currently 0-3 in goals scored/conceded, so-called “dark horse” of their group smh
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u/York9TFC 26d ago
One of the most entertaining 0-0 draws I’ve seen
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u/donkedickinya 26d ago
The Spain v Cape Verde match was similar
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u/York9TFC 26d ago
Yeah, but Curaçao actually had a few chances to score, unlike Cape Verde
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u/Jack-ums 26d ago
Cape Verde almost won at the very end with a counterattack. They had a couple very good opportunities that they just didn’t capitalize on. Not a ton but not zero by any stretch
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u/CMUpewpewpew 26d ago
As a fellow goalie, this was a fun game to watch! Dude played out of his mind.
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u/AfraidParadox 26d ago
Room was a wall that match. 15 saves in regular time is insane, especially when you consider most of those came from close range. Curaçao had no business keeping that scoreline but he made every decision look easy, reading the play before it happened. That's the kind of performance that sticks with you even if the result doesn't go your way. His team should be proud they had someone that locked in between the posts.
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u/Edm_swami 26d ago
Legendary stats unlocked. Mad props to him, that was a hell of a performance.
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u/AfraidParadox 26d ago
the crazy part is how many were one-on-ones or point-blank where he had maybe half a second to react. Most keepers fold under that pressure but he stayed composed every time.
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u/_BreadDenier 26d ago
He used to play for the Columbus Crew and was very highly regarded. I saw him play I think the same time I saw Cucho Hernandez’s first match.
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u/6Trinity9 26d ago
Dude made some amazing saves, there was no…. Room for error.
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u/T1DIABISH 26d ago
Inspiring af. Whatever the outcome, as someone from a neighboring Caribbean island, I am heart warmed. We are used to being dominated by football titans. Thats just how it works, but Everyone has got to feel proud of this, no matter who you’re rooting for. What an insane performance. So clutch. Hanging in there when it matters most, I’m overjoyed !!! 🩷🩷🩷
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u/itsaride England 26d ago
Best 0-0 I've ever watched.
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u/Bibabeulouba 26d ago
Damn it was too late to watch where I’m at. Was it as good as Spain v Cabo Verde?
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u/Farout786 26d ago
The guy was a wall. Very impressed with his performance because a lot of keepers would’ve let one of those shots in and it would’ve been perfectly within reason because one is bound to go in, but not this guy. Not tonight.
Great job by Room.
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u/Tukkertje93 26d ago
FYI for the English speakers: "Room" is pronounced like roam and it basically means cream
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u/Taihuangtaihou 26d ago
His followers on Instagram just increased significantly after the match! Only one save away from Tim Howard’s record in 2014!
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u/Xaxxis USA 26d ago
And without extra time.
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u/SentientSTD 26d ago
And without conceding.
I'd say 15 saves out of 15 possible is comfortably more impressive than 16 out of 18.
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u/Alexwonder999 25d ago
I have a feeling any day now someone is going to do a segment on some talk show where he and Tim Howard play foosball against each other. Can you bet that on Kalshi? I never used it.
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u/27bluestar USA 24d ago
Now Ronaldo has to appear in a Mr Beast video where he takes 10 penalty kicks against each keeper to see who is the best. 100 million dollars for each save and 10 billion for the winnet
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u/yoggiez USA 26d ago
Historic. Seemingly bottom tier team thrust into semi-revalancy
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u/engineer_in_software 26d ago
He literally stood like a wall
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u/Accomplished-Iron778 26d ago
He is a wall
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26d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/darthvader903 26d ago
Eloy Room officially locked down the goal so hard that he turned the penalty box into his personal VIP lounge
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u/The0verlord- USA 26d ago edited 26d ago
Second most saves ever in a World Cup game!
Behind only US legend Tim Howard at 16 saves against Belgium. (This is the first Soccer match I remember watching. I was in middle school at a Buffalo Wild Wings)
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u/sdn 26d ago
Apparently it's the most saves in regular time.
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u/The0verlord- USA 26d ago
Ah, that makes sense! Quite an achievement, and he managed to keep a clean sheet which Howard did not
(Still, selfishly I’m happy that Howard still holds that record. That game holds a special place in my heart)
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u/TheGreatDeldini 26d ago
Those Tim Howard memes were hilarious.
Game of Thrones was nearly at peak hype at the time and that meme of him stopping Ned Stark from getting executed was really clever.
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u/Inevitable_Brick_877 26d ago
I won conditional tickets to that game - only valid if we made it out of the “group of death” - and it was my first team USA game! Tim Howard carried us through that tournament. Truly a hero greater than what the rest of the team deserves
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u/farmer15erf 26d ago
Room, who plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship, did set the record for World Cup saves in regulation. Howard made 12 saves in the first 90 minutes against Belgium, then four more in extra time.
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u/paisleyhaze 26d ago
Do you remember what you ordered at Buffalo Wild Wings?
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u/The0verlord- USA 26d ago
Probably boneless wings? Their Asian Zing sauce is like crack, so probably tossed in that if I had to put money on it
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u/Suchislifegng 26d ago
If it's in regulation time room beat the Peru keeper with 13 saves in regular time. Historic keeping one for the books
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u/jaxstan19 26d ago
I remember the game, but more than anything I remember the memes. #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave felt like one of the first mega viral sports memes on twitter.
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u/No-Effective388 26d ago
He singlehandedly made Germany the group winner
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u/ComfyFrog 26d ago
I think Germany winning two games with 9-2 goals played a big part in them becoming group winners
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u/No-Effective388 26d ago
There was still a possibility for Ecuador. With the draw this is not possible anymore.
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u/perplexedtv 26d ago
So Germany will take it really easy on Ecuador no, right? Right?
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u/No-Effective388 26d ago
Could be. While Ecuador wants to secure the second place so they will go all-in.
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u/Valuable-Sugar-9193 26d ago
Germany will most likely play their B team, and the B team is hungry to prove themselves.
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u/Old-Ad-3268 24d ago
Record? Didn't Tim Howard of the USA make like 1000 saves against Belgium a couple of world cups ago?
Edit: Tim Howard and his 16 saves is still the record saved you a click
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u/notinsanescientist 23d ago
You cannot believe the shade of blue my balls were watching this game as a Belgian.
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u/ScalabrineIsGod 26d ago
I don’t watch much football but that will be changing. This was an enthralling match as an ignorant, neutral viewer. The goalie should be proud of his performance.
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u/DrWindupBird 26d ago
Oh man. If you enjoyed this, you would love watching actual league soccer. Like with coherent teams that have trained together. This game was pretty ugly for long stretches.
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u/kananishino 26d ago
There is a world where Curacao can make it to the knockout stages right?
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u/ComfyFrog 26d ago
Germany has to win against Ecuador and Curacao against Ivory Coast, then they advance for sure. There are some third placed teams that will advance but I dont know the rule.
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u/HomieeJo 26d ago
Only the best third place teams go through. You'd need 4 points for that so they have to win either way.
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u/SuccessTrue1232 World Cup 25d ago
8 out of 12 third place teams go through so no you do not necessarily need 4 points
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u/AnyAd6179 Brazil 26d ago
The key moment was that spectacular save early in the game. From that point on, Room’s confidence just kept growing throughout the match.
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u/AstronomerNo2339 World Cup 26d ago
The history he made is most saves in a World Cup game in regular time. 15
Tim had 16 in a game with extra time.
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u/msmiowgi 26d ago
(Tim Howard for USMNT v Belgium in Brazil 2014 for newer fans)
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u/bwoah07_gp2 Canada 26d ago
"This goalie is so good, I bet some team is gonna snatch him up this summer, he's a hot commodity."
"Dad, he's 37..."
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u/paperbuddha 26d ago
It doesn’t matter, he’s going to be making more money now than he was before the World Cup.
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u/optimal-username USA 26d ago
He currently plays for Miami FC in the USL Championship. FotMob has his transfer value as $88k USD. It’s almost impossible for him to make less money
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u/Mad_Islander 26d ago
He also gained over 500k followers after this game. So happy for him.
Edit: He
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u/nuetrolizer_98 26d ago
I love the fact that the Word Cup can change the life of a single player based on a singular performance. Same with the Cape Verde keeper
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u/TitaniumDragon 26d ago
This is the second highest in a World Cup game, second only to Tim Howard's legendary 16.
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u/TexasToastx Mexico 26d ago
I think Tim’s was in extra time? This was within regulation.
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u/noni3k USA 26d ago
Dude was locked the fuck in.
But I feel this is more of a slight towards Ecuador and their performance.
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u/The0verlord- USA 26d ago
Yeah. He let in 7 against Germany. Doesn’t diminish the achievement here, but you gotta wonder what if Ecuador didn’t shoot it straight at Room
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u/DiplomaticAggie USA 26d ago
CONCACAF teams will drag you through glass if you don’t snuff them out quickly like the Germans did
Mind you they won’t win very often, but the haramball will make you wish you were watching tiki taka
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u/Infamous-Present-616 Mexico 26d ago
He was incredible. I was at the game and was so much fun.
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u/unateon 26d ago
Whenever folks say, why do Mexico or USA struggle with these regional countries like, Jamaica, curuçao, Guadalupe..etc. I say these dudes are tough. They sell every defeat at a high price.
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u/imapilotaz 26d ago
11 guys behind the ball is almost impossible t0 break down. Couple that with an insane GK performance and a country like Curacao can tie up an Ecuador
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u/HIEROYALL 26d ago
You saw the Germany game right?
Hard to break down, yes.
Almost impossible? No.
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u/imapilotaz 26d ago
I mean for Germany is one thing... they are a top 5 team
For Mexico or USA? Its a bit different. Germany's C squad is still good. USA and Mexico get really iffy once past the top player in each position. There is a real difference in depth quality
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u/localexpat806 Colombia 26d ago
All you need is 1 goal to open up the defense. Down 1-0 Curaçao wouldve had to attack, opening up spaces in the back.
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u/seajewelblue Cabo Verde 26d ago
He was great! Did he goalkeep the game against Germany?
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u/Jack-ums 26d ago
Yeah, but tbh they might have scored 20 if not for him haha. That game was almost tight for a half
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u/DiplomaticAggie USA 26d ago
Ecuador had like 15 shots on goal with a goa of like 2.8
Room deserves his flowers, but Ecuador was kinda ass at finishing
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u/B-Train_ATL 26d ago
A clean sheet against 15 shots on goal in a World Cup is just amazing no matter what else.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/ravenofshadow 25d ago
I mean... idk man. I watched it and plenty were fully outstretched crazy saves
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u/Naturallefty USA 25d ago
Couple close range headers too which are never easy saves
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u/the_cave_allegory 25d ago
Most of these shots were right at the GK
This was my thought as well, I couldn't believe how the Ecuadorian attackers couldn't manage a shot that was on the open part of the net.
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u/radioheadfan0615 Argentina 25d ago
nah, rooms performance was equally impressive live lol
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u/TheRankHunter 26d ago
Eloy Room made 15 saves to equal the World Cup record and help earn Curaçao its first-ever World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against heavily favored Ecuador. He bounced back from conceding seven goals to Germany in his first World Cup match a week ago. His 15 saves are the most ever on record since 1966 in a World Cup match without extra time, and tied Tim Howard's all-time record.
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u/throwawar4 Canada 26d ago
Does that mean Ecuador made history with most shots on target?
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u/IWillAlwaysReplyBack 26d ago edited 26d ago
Alright who's got the video edit?
edit: since no one helped me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg6A7EzH7do
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u/jewboy916 26d ago
Send him to MLS. He'd be better than Crapeau on Orlando City at least.
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u/velospence1 Colombia 26d ago
been there, done that. won 2020 MLS Cup with Columbus Crew and didn't realize until last night's coverage that he was back in NA playing for Miami FC.
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u/cdtekcfc 26d ago
To be fair, those were shitty weak shots from Ecuador.
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u/LiamNeesonsIsMyShiit South Africa 26d ago
Some of them were good saves, but most were weak ass shots straight to him.
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u/The_Dug_Out_2026 26d ago edited 26d ago
Worth noting Curaçao have a population of about 150,000 — smaller than most football club academies. For context, Room plays his club football at Miami FC in the USL Championship, the second tier of US soccer. This wasn’t a world class keeper having a moment, it was a journeyman putting in the single greatest defensive performance most of us will see at this level. That’s the magic of a 48-team World Cup — a nation this small gets a stage like this.
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u/Severe_Proposal_7834 26d ago
Worth mentioning that Room for a long time was first keeper of the Dutch Eredivisie (First tier) football club Vitesse from the city of Arnhem
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u/Obi_Schrimm 26d ago
Except, he doesn’t play in the Dutch second but the USLC which is the second division in US football.
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