Top News

DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

David Raya was recognised as Europe’s standout goalkeeper last season – so why is the Arsenal shot-stopper not starting for Spain at the World Cup?

Spain may boast one of the most talented squads at the 2026 World Cup, yet debate continues to swirl around the goalkeeping position. Despite having elite options such as David Raya and Joan Garcia, head coach Luis de la Fuente has remained loyal to Unai Simon. The statistics appear stacked against the Athletic Club man, but it seems unlikely that any changes will be made soon.

Supporters of Arsenal and Barcelona have collectively voiced their confusion online over why both Raya and Garcia remain behind Simon in the pecking order, especially after their exceptional club seasons seemingly went unnoticed by De la Fuente.

Following weeks of speculation leading up to the tournament, the Spain manager stood firm and once again entrusted his long-time No.1, who started in Spain’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in their Group H opener.

So, why does Simon remain Spain’s “undisputed” first-choice goalkeeper when others have outperformed him? The answer is surprisingly straightforward.

Premier League and Europe’s best

Raya was not only the best goalkeeper in English football last season but also across Europe based on clean sheet records. The 30-year-old claimed his third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove in 2025-26, registering an astonishing 19 clean sheets – his most impressive tally yet – as Arsenal finally ended their long wait for a league title.

Arsenal’s success simply would not have been possible without Raya’s brilliance between the posts, with his crucial saves often turning matches in their favour. Among his standout moments were a fingertip stop in the 1-0 win over Manchester United, a flying save against Brighton, two critical interventions in a narrow victory over Chelsea, and a stunning denial of Mateus Fernandes in the decisive clash with West Ham.

Raya’s record of 19 clean sheets in 37 matches and just 26 goals conceded secured him the European Golden Glove, finishing ahead of compatriot Joan Garcia (15). His numbers also placed him among the top 10 goalkeepers in Premier League history for most shutouts in a single season. His form carried over to the Champions League too, where he kept nine clean sheets in 14 appearances during Arsenal’s journey to the final.

‘They consider him best in the world’

Despite such remarkable performances, Raya still finds himself on the bench for Spain, with De la Fuente continuing to favour Simon – even though the Athletic Club goalkeeper is statistically not even the second-best in the squad.

In Spain, the main debate is actually between Simon and Garcia, who enjoyed a superb debut season with Barcelona. The widespread belief is that Raya’s achievements have been somewhat overlooked because he plays abroad in England, keeping him “out of sight, out of mind.”

The goalkeeper himself admitted during a pre-tournament press conference that “sometimes they asked who I was” when he first joined the national team.

De la Fuente even addressed that sentiment before the World Cup, stating: “We have David Raya, who I’m eager for you to ask me about. In England, they consider him the best goalkeeper in the world, and here nobody talks about him.” Yet, his continued selection of Simon suggests he has not fully taken that recognition to heart.

Caps have come...

Raya has previously had short spells as Spain’s No.1, most notably when Simon was sidelined with a wrist injury during the first half of the 2024-25 season. He started five out of six UEFA Nations League group matches, keeping three clean sheets. However, once Simon recovered in early 2025, Raya was promptly relegated to the bench, even during the Nations League finals, despite helping Spain qualify for them.

Raya earned his first cap since then in a friendly against Egypt in March and played 45 minutes in a warm-up match against Peru, but that did not translate into a starting berth at the World Cup. He was again among the substitutes for Spain’s frustrating draw with Cape Verde.

...But ‘Simon is indisputable’

So why isn’t Raya Spain’s No.1 despite his stellar club performances? The explanation lies not in tactics or statistics but in loyalty.

Simon has been De la Fuente’s first-choice since replacing Luis Enrique after the 2022 World Cup. Having guided Spain to the Euro 2024 title, the coach sees little reason to move on from the goalkeeper who delivered him that success.

“It would be unfair if we didn’t value Unai’s quality, class, career, and professional experience,” De la Fuente said before the tournament. “It would be absurd for me to have to come here and reaffirm it, just because he’s Unai Simon. When a goalkeeper is at this level, you have to respect his standing and his career.”

He further added, “Unai Simon is indisputable. The others have a lot of talent and class, but everything in its own time.”

Blind loyalty?

However, supporters of Arsenal and Barcelona are questioning whether that loyalty has blinded De la Fuente’s judgment. Statistically, Simon is by far the weakest of the three goalkeepers selected.

Simon conceded a staggering 73 goals in 2025-26 – more than double Raya’s 31 and well above Garcia’s 42. He managed just eight clean sheets in 46 appearances, a modest 17.4% success rate. In the key metric of goals prevented, Simon again falls short at -6.86, compared to Garcia’s impressive 9.7 and Raya’s 4.39. Even in terms of passing accuracy, Simon’s 58% trails behind Raya’s 65% and Garcia’s 90%, undermining the perception that he is better with the ball at his feet.

‘In good hands whoever plays’

Raya, for his part, has remained composed and professional despite his frustration, prioritising team success over personal ambitions.

“I think Spain is in good hands, whoever plays,” he said at a press conference at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga before their opening game. “Since Unai debuted, he has performed at a really high level. We have won the Nations League and the Euros with him, and he’s a great goalkeeper who has given us these titles.”

He continued: “I am doing my job for my club to be the best I can be and to represent my country, which is the most important thing. I am here to help the team as much as possible and win the second World Cup star.”

Arsenal fans will hope Raya eventually gets the chance to prove himself, and there may still be an opportunity. “The best news is that I have no doubts at all about the goalkeepers,” De la Fuente said before the tournament, hinting that he would trust any of his options. “I have complete confidence in them. There’s something special about them.”

How far will Spain go at the World Cup?