Room - 15 Saves in 0-0 vs Ecuador and Japan 4-0 in World Cup Match 1,000
Curacao held on after a 7-1 loss. Japan set a win record on the historic match in Monterrey.
One World Cup 2026 weekend gave two results people will remember: Curacao’s heroic clean sheet and Japan’s rout in match 1,000.
Curacao 0-0 Ecuador - Room and 15 saves
After 7-1 to Germany, the tiny nation arrived in Kansas City with low expectations. Ecuador dominated: 28 shots, 15 on target - and 0 on the scoreboard.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room, 37, spent most of his career on Eredivisie benches. This night he made 15 saves - a record since 1966 for a World Cup match without extra time.
Key moments:
- 3rd min - Enner Valencia one-on-one, Room tips around the post
- Caicedo and Plata chances - Room makes two saves in a row from one corner
- late - Angelo Preciado hits the bar
At the final whistle teammates mobbed Room. Curacao’s first World Cup point. Coach Dick Advocaat got pride back after a humiliation.
Ecuador can still advance, but faces Germany in tough shape. Curacao still has knockout hopes.
Japan 4-0 Tunisia - the 1,000th World Cup match
Before Saturday, 999 World Cup games had been played since 1930. Match 1,000 - Japan vs Tunisia in Monterrey.
Japan won 4-0 - their biggest World Cup victory ever. Previous best: 2-0 (also vs Tunisia, 2002) and 3-1 vs Denmark (2010).
Goals:
- 4th min - Daichi Kamada
- 31st - Ayase Ueda
- 69th - Junya Ito
- 83rd - Ueda brace
Tunisia became the first team eliminated. After 5-1 vs Sweden they changed coach to Herve Renard - it didn’t help.
Japan has 4 points in Group F. A draw with Sweden on June 26 sends them to the Round of 16.
Bottom line
Room showed one keeper can rewrite a nation’s story. Japan showed a milestone match can belong to you - not just the history books. Two scripts, one tournament.