2026 World Cup: Curaçao in paradise thanks to Eloy Room; Japan scores four

It was a night of high drama. In their Group E match against Ecuador, Curaçao secured a stunning draw (0-0), earning their first point of the World Cup and redeeming themselves after their disastrous opener against Germany.

The undisputed star of the match was goalkeeper Eloy Room, who made decisive saves on multiple occasions. He made a total of 15 saves during a game that made him a hero back home. At 37 years old, he pulled off a true feat.

“I still can’t believe what happened. I gave it everything I had. My father was by my side (he passed away last November, ed.),” he said clearly at the end of the match against Ecuador (he was named the game’s MVP).

Japan also took the field, sweeping aside Tunisia with a decisive 4-0 victory. Ayase Ueda put in a great performance, scoring twice. For Tunisia, this marks their second consecutive loss, and their elimination is now certain. The coaching change did not yield the hoped-for results.