Group E preview: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse dive into Group E with four-time champions Germany! The duo dives into everything you need to know, including Alexis’ surprising group choice. Are Moisés Caicedo and Ecuador ready for a deep run? Tune in daily for a new batch as we race towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting June 11th on FOX! Presented by @Zillow #Zillow
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Curacao needed a historic effort from its goalkeeper to pick up the first World Cup point in the country’s history on Saturday.
Curacao’s Eloy Room made 15 saves against Ecuador and drew the game 0-0. Room’s total saves were one shy of the record of 16 set by American soccer legend Tim Howard against Belgium on July 1, 2014.
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Curacao’s goalkeeper Eloy Room waves to fans after the World Cup Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2026. (Reed Hoffmann/Ap)
“It’s going to be a crazy memory,” Room said after the game. “You don’t think about it when you do it, but of course it’s something you look back on. For me as a goalkeeper, it’s almost a perfect match.”
Room hit the mark in regulation, while Howard needed 120 minutes for his mark. No goalkeeper has made more saves than Room without extra time.
“I think I need a statue in Curacao now,” he added.
Ecuador took 27 shots against 10 for Curacao. Ten of Room’s 15 saves were made inside the box.
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Ecuador’s Jordy Caicedo and Curaçao’s Jurien Gaari compete for a header during a World Cup Group E match in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2026. (Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
Curacao earned the point when Germany defeated Ivory Coast earlier in the day to win Group E. The draw kept both Curacao and Ecuador in contention for the knockout stages. However, Ecuador are in tough form with only points in their first two matches.
“Well, there are things you can’t explain in soccer,” Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said. “We wanted to win. We didn’t. I’m the one who carries the responsibility and I told my team, ‘If you give it your all and compete, I have no complaints.’
“As long as we are alive, we will continue to give everything. We are very united. We are like a family. Nobody said it would be easy.”
Curaçao’s Leandro Bacuna and teammates celebrate after a draw against Ecuador during a World Cup Group E soccer match in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2026. (Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
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Ecuador will play Germany and Curacao will compete against Ivory Coast in the final Group E matches of the tournament.
