Group E preview: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Alexi Lalas and David Mosse dive into Group E with four-time champions Germany! The duo delves into everything you need to know, including Alexi’s surprising group picks. Are Moises Caicedo and Ecuador ready for a deep run? Tune in daily to watch a new group as we build towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting June 11 on FOX! Brought to you by @Zillow #Zillow
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Curacao needed a historic effort from its goalkeeper to earn the first World Cup point in the country’s history on Saturday.
Curacao’s Eloy Room made 15 saves against Ecuador and earned a 0-0 draw in the match. Room’s save total was 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 goalkeeper Eloy Room greets fans after the World Cup Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20, 2026. (Reed Hoffmann/Ap)
“It’s going to be an amazing memory,” Room said after the game. “You don’t think about it when you do it, but of course it will be something you will remember. For me, as a goalkeeper, this is an almost perfect match.”
Room reached the mark in regulation time, while Howard needed 120 minutes to achieve his mark. No goalkeeper has made more saves than Room without overtime.
“I think I need a statue in Curaçao now,” he added.
Ecuador took 27 shots against Curacao’s 10. Ten of Room’s 15 stops were made inside the box.
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Jordy Caicedo of Ecuador and Jurien Gaari of Curacao compete for a header during a World Cup Group E match in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 20, 2026. (Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
Curacao earned the point when Germany defeated Ivory Coast earlier in the day to clinch Group E. The draw kept Curacao and Ecuador in contention for the knockout stage. However, Ecuador is in a difficult situation, with only one point from its first two games.
“Well, there are things that cannot be explained in football,” said Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece. “We wanted to win. We didn’t achieve it. I am the one who has the responsibility and I told my team: ‘If you are giving your all, competing, I have no complaints.’
“As long as we’re alive, we’ll keep giving it our all. We’re very close. We’re like a family. Nobody said it would be easy.”
Leandro Bacuna of Curacao and his teammates celebrate after a tie against Ecuador during a World Cup Group E soccer match in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 20, 2026. (Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
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Ecuador will play against Germany and Curacao will compete against Ivory Coast in the final matches of Group E of the tournament.
