Goalkeeper Eloy Room produced one of the great World Cup performances, making a record-equalling 15 saves as Curacao held Ecuador to a goalless 0-0 draw at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The point was a historic first at a World Cup for Dick Advocaat’s side, achieved despite relentless Ecuadorian pressure in this Group E clash.
What was the final score of Ecuador vs Curacao?
Ecuador 0-0 Curacao. Ecuador dominated almost every statistic — possession, shots and expected goals — but could not beat an inspired Eloy Room, who matched the highest single-match save total in World Cup history to earn Curacao a famous point.
Match highlights video
How the game unfolded
This was a story of attack against defence from the first whistle. Ecuador, heavy favourites, took a vice-like grip on the ball and laid siege to the Curacao goal, but they found Eloy Room in unbeatable form. Time and again, the goalkeeper denied them, throwing up a one-man wall as Curacao defended deep and threw bodies in front of everything.
Ecuador kept coming after the break, working the ball into shooting positions and testing Room from every angle. The keeper answered every question, pulling off save after save to keep the scores level. The longer the game stayed goalless, the more belief grew in the Curacao ranks that something special was on.
Room finished the night with 15 saves, equalling the most by any goalkeeper in a single World Cup match since records began in 1966. Ecuador’s tally of shots on target without scoring was the highest in a World Cup game since that same year — a measure of both their dominance and their frustration. When the final whistle blew, it was the underdogs celebrating a point that felt like a victory.
Ecuador vs Curacao: match stats
| Statistic | Ecuador | Curacao |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 75% | 25% |
| Total shots | 26 | 10 |
| Shots on target | 15 | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 3.05 | 0.48 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 1 | 15 |
Source: ESPN / Opta match centre.
The numbers paint a picture of near-total Ecuadorian control: three-quarters of the possession, 26 shots and an expected-goals figure of 3.05 to Curacao’s 0.48. On almost any other night, that would have produced a comfortable win. Instead, Room’s 15 saves turned an expected three points into a single hard-earned one, with Ecuador’s 15 shots on target the most in a goalless World Cup match in nearly 60 years.
What the result means
For Curacao — one of the smallest nations by population ever to reach a World Cup — the draw was a landmark moment and their first-ever point at the tournament. For Ecuador, it was two points dropped that leave them needing a result against Germany in their final group game to keep their knockout hopes alive. Curacao, buoyed by Room’s heroics, will look to spring another surprise against Ivory Coast on the last matchday of Group E.
Frequently asked questions
How many saves did Eloy Room make against Ecuador?
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves, equalling the highest single-match save total in World Cup history since records began in 1966.
Did anyone score in Ecuador vs Curacao?
No. The match finished 0-0. Ecuador dominated with 26 shots and 15 on target, but were repeatedly denied by Eloy Room.
Where was Ecuador vs Curacao played?
The match was played at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) in Kansas City on June 20, 2026, in World Cup 2026 Group E.
