World Cup David Raya could play for England instead of Spain

David Raya, the Arsenal goalkeeper who kept nineteen clean sheets in the 2025‑26 Premier League, finds himself on the fringe of Spain’s World Cup squad while the possibility of playing for England is being discussed. Manager Luis de la Fuente has stuck with Unai Simon, prompting speculation that Raya could be playing for England instead of Spain at the tournament.

Club brilliance and World Cup snub

Raya’s season was marked by a third successive Golden Glove award and a pivotal role in Arsenal’s first league title in over twenty years. Despite those achievements, he remains behind Simon in the national team pecking order, a fact that has drawn criticism after Spain conceded only one goal on their way to winning the World Cup.

When the conversation turned to Simon versus Joan Garcia, de la Fuente remarked, "Why aren’t we talking about David Raya? It’s unbelievable. It’s terrifying." Raya answered that his long stay in England might have made him less visible to the selectors, saying, "Maybe so, maybe not. It’s natural with Joan and Unai being in Spain. I’ve been away a very long time. I remember the first time I came to seleccion, people asked who I was."

Calum’s journey from academy to editor

Having taken part in the GiveMeSport Academy in early 2023, Calum joined the team full‑time in June of the same year. After completing a Freelance Journalism course through the British College of Journalism, he moved into the role of editor shortly after.

He has also produced news content for HITC Sport and Read Liverpool, creating a wide range of content for GMS that includes news, opinion, features, lists and viral sport pieces. His passion for sport extends beyond football; he has covered Boxing, Tennis and Wrestling for the outlet.