David Raya believes Spain is “in good hands” regardless of who starts the World Cup in goal as he battles Unai Simon and Joan Garcia to become Luis de la Fuente’s number one.
Raya enjoyed an excellent season at Arsenal, helping the Gunners to a first Premier League title in 22 years and reach the Champions League final.
Garcia also starred as Barcelona won La Liga, but they will reportedly miss the match as Simon is expected to start.
The Athletic Bilbao striker has been Spain’s number one in the past three major tournaments, including when La Roja won the 2024 European Championship.
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«I think Spain is in good hands, whoever plays,» Raya told a news conference at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga on Saturday.
“Since his debut, Unai has performed at a very high level. We won the Nations League and the European Championship with him and he is a great goalkeeper who has brought us these titles.”
Raya, 30, has spent the vast majority of his career in England.
He moved to Blackburn as a teenager and spent a loan spell at sixth-tier side Southport before making a name for himself in the Premier League with Brentford.
In three years at Arsenal he has won the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in the Premier League every season.
But much of the debate in his home country has been about whether Garcia should be chosen ahead of Simon over Raya.
«I spent a lot of years abroad and I remember the first time I joined the national team, they sometimes asked who I was,» he added of being overlooked in Spain.
«I do my job for my club to be the best I can be and to be able 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.»
Raya could not have done more to convince De la Fuente after a brilliant season at club level.
As well as ending the long wait to win the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s men also reached their first Champions League final in 20 years, but the penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain prevented them from becoming champions of Europe for the first time.
“Personally I think it was a very successful season and collectively it was spectacular,” he said.
«We managed to win the Premier League, something that was so desired by our fans and the club. It has been a great season and I am also very happy with my performance.»
Spain starts its World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on Monday, before also facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
Published on June 14, 2026
