Why David Raya Has Not Been Starting for Spain at the 2026 World Cup
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, a Premier League Golden Glove winner with 19 clean sheets in the 2025/26 season, has been relegated to the bench for Spain during the 2026 World Cup. Despite his outstanding club form, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has preferred Unai Simon, who has been Spain's long-established number one and led them to Euro 2024 glory. Simon's performances have vindicated the decision, as Spain boasts the tournament's meanest defense, conceding only once (against Belgium) and setting a record of over 650 minutes without conceding. Simon made crucial saves, including denying Kylian Mbappe in the semi-finals. De la Fuente stated the decision was based on assessing which goalkeeper best suits the team's needs, prioritizing international experience over recent club form. Raya has not played a single minute in North America.
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