Columbus

The Columbus view of Eloy Room, Curacao, our Ecuadorian guests, and Cape Verde's amazing run

Massivity and the World Cup

Michael Arace

22 Jun 2026 — 6 min read

Somebody sent me this. Generally speaking, I steer clear of all AI, but I make an exception here.

Former Crew keeper remains a polarizing figure here

Former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves and was hailed as a hero as the tiny island nation of Curacao (population 152,000) secured the first World Cup point in its history with a shocking, 0-0 draw against Ecuador in Kansas City Saturday. Room's 15 saves set a new World Cup record.

Crew fans have mixed feelings about Room, and not just for his tendency to go flat-footed and give up some howlers. Which they've seen.

Room is remembered somewhat warmly for posting a clean sheet in the MLS Cup championship game in 2020, when the Crew upset heavily favored Seattle 3-0 at old Crew Stadium to win the title. That was the end of a COVID-shortened season (and Caleb Porter's magic).

Not long after, it was confirmed that Room is an ardent anti-vaxxer. By mid-2021, he was missing games by going into quarantine rather than accepting a COVID vaccination (which league protocol required for players returning from international duty, as Room was at the time). This rankled most Crew fans, who began to look at Room as a selfish person.

In a Wally Pipp-type development, Room eventually lost his job to Patrick Schulte and, in July 2023, Room and the Crew mutually agreed to terminate his contract. He returned to the Netherlands, where he was born and raised, and rejoined Vitesse. After that, he played in Belgium. Lately, he has been hanging on with the USL Championship side Miami FC.

Room's politics are a problem for many Crew fans, a problem that goes beyond being an anti-vaxxer. He has, for instance, been a public supporter of the Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, U.S.-British citizens and former professional kickboxers who've made millions as reality TV stars and far-right-wing influencers. To say the Tates are controversial is an understatement.

From a recent article in People Magazine: "Andrew has faced backlash for his statements that women 'belong' to men and 'bear some responsibility' for being raped, according to the New York Times, as well as claiming that men are the victims of feminism and that there is a conspiracy to subdue men's success."

The Tate brothers were indicted in Romania in 2022 on charges of human trafficking. They denied the charges and, on appeal, it was ruled that "legal and prosecutorial irregularities" prevented the case from going forward. In 2024 the U.K. brought 21 charges against the brothers for rape, human trafficking, and "actual bodily harm."

Room's response:

After his 15-save performance Saturday, Room joked that they should erect a statue of him in Curacao. Given what that game meant to the country, it might not be such a joke.

Here in Columbus, there was some snickering when Curacao/Room allowed seven goals against Germany in the first group-stage game June 14. When Room became an overnight hero over the weekend, there was reticence to embrace him here. It has little to do with purity tests and more to do with the fact that the Nordecke tends to reject inhumanity.

Eventually, the Tate brothers came up in this thread.

Ecuador may have needed to spend more GAM. And TAM.

Columbus is hosting Ecuador. Between games, La Tricolor are staying at a boutique hotel on High Street and training at the Crew's practice facility.

Ecuador finished a heady second to Argentina in CONMEBOL qualifying – making it to the final stage of the World Cup for the fifth time in the country's history – and came to North America with high hopes.

Alas, after getting beaten by the Ivory Coast in their first group-stage game and then being stonewalled/stunned by Room and Curacao in their second, La Tri have been all but eliminated from the knockout rounds. They'll have to beat Germany on Thursday and cross their fingers. As my Neapolitan Nana used to say, "Fata chenza."

Generally speaking, the focus of Ecuador-oriented memes bouncing around the socials is the imminent firing of coach Sebastián Beccacece. It's too bad. Ecuador flags have been waving around CBus for a couple of weeks now. Their fans have brought even more life to the Short North area. Locals have adopted La Tri as their second- or third-favorite team, after (insert any team here, such as Team USA) and Scotland.

One of Columbus' favorite teams is Cape Verde, if only for the presence of Crew backliner Steven Moreira, the 2023 MLS Defender of the Year. Moreira is well-loved, within and without the Columbus locker room. Excellent player. Wonderful dude.

I've argued that the Cape Verde Blue Sharks have a more compelling story than Curacao in this cycle.

And Cape Verde's story just keeps getting better.

Moreira, by the way, is playing fabulously – which surprises no one around here.

Thanks again for coming

Once again, I'd to pass along my thanks to the hundred-plus who showed up for The Disrespected's live podcast (with Frankie Hejduk and Duncan Oughton) and USA-Australia watch party at Budd Dairy Food Hall on Friday afternoon. 'Twas a rousing success.

We'll be out on the road again somewhere soon.

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