Luis de la Fuente has decided Unai Simón will start Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Cape Verde on Monday, June 15. For Joan Garcia, the message is clear: his rapid rise won’t earn him the first whistle at least for now, even as some press warns the
When Luis de la Fuente finalized Spain’s starting goalkeeper plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Cape Verde on Monday, June 15, the decision landed bluntly on Joan Garcia.
Despite Garcia’s fast rise since joining FC Barcelona. the Athletic Club goalkeeper is not expected to start at the beginning of the tournament. Unai Simón. the role he held at the last UEFA Euro and World Cup. is set to be Spain’s starter—again. The margin for mistakes is slim. Any slip from Simón would quickly turn into a public argument about whether Garcia should have been the one in goal.
Some sections of the press even frame the call-up of the Barcelona keeper as a potential gamble for De la Fuente. Not because Garcia lacks quality to play for La Roja—those pieces point the other way. The worry is that bringing a goalkeeper who is “too good” to sit quietly on the bench can spark a harsher debate the moment fans think the team is not maximizing its options.
Garcia’s excitement is tied to what supporters have been seeing since his move to Barça: quick reflexes and the calm of playing comfortably out from the back for European champions. After he got his first international start against Iraq, the next chapter wasn’t as active. Garcia sat out the recent 3-1 win over Peru. a match in which Simón started the first half before being replaced by David Raya.
After that friendly, De la Fuente didn’t leave room for guesswork. He made it clear the starting plan was settled in advance.
“Any of them deserves this recognition. It is not a gift, it’s the opportunity to demonstrate their class internationally. Today I thought it was fair to also give David the option. but I am clear on who the starting goalkeeper will be at the beginning of the World Cup. if there are no setbacks. ” De la Fuente said.
That explanation matters because both Raya and Garcia still have arguments for the top spot when you look at recent form. Yet De la Fuente’s choice leans toward tournament experience—an angle that has a familiar foundation inside Spain’s setup. Simón has already been the starter in major moments, including the Euro 2024 final, which he started and won.
The counterweight is the kind of goalkeeper season that can’t be ignored when pressure mounts. Simón had a quieter period at San Mamés, where his team conceded 58 goals in La Liga.
So for Garcia. the immediate reality is bench time at the tournament’s start—at least until De la Fuente’s “if there are no setbacks” line becomes the only thing standing between a plan and a reshuffle. And for Simón, the opening game against Cape Verde on June 15 isn’t just a match. It’s the first test of a decision that Spain’s fans will be watching closely. especially once the name of the Barcelona goalkeeper keeps getting brought up for the right reasons.
Joan Garcia Unai Simón Luis de la Fuente Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 Cape Verde UEFA Euro 2024 David Raya FC Barcelona Athletic Club