Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has lavished praise on Joan García, confirming the Barcelona goalkeeper’s inclusion in the senior national team squad and describing him as one of the absolute best in the world.
In a recent press interaction following the announcement of the latest squad (which includes friendlies and preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers), De la Fuente addressed a reporter’s question about García’s surprise call-up:
Reporter: “Coach, can you tell us about Joan García’s inclusion in the squad? What makes him the right choice right now?”
Luis de la Fuente: “He’s a fantastic goalkeeper, but it’s not as if we’ve just discovered him. We’ve actually known him for a long time. He was with me in the U21 national team, and he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
The coach went on to reveal that García has been on Spain’s radar for years:
“If I remember correctly, an attempt was made to bring him into the setup about five years ago, so he’s been on our radar since then.”
De la Fuente highlighted García’s elite status while underscoring Spain’s extraordinary depth in goalkeeping:
“He is truly a world-class goalkeeper—one of the absolute best. In fact, I’d argue that five or six of the world’s top ten keepers right now are Spanish. We are in a remarkably privileged position to have that kind of depth.”
Background on the Call-Up
Joan García (24), who rose to prominence at Espanyol before joining Barcelona in the summer of 2025, has been a standout performer in La Liga this season with exceptional shot-stopping and goal-prevention stats. He previously featured for Spain’s U21 side under De la Fuente and was part of the Olympic gold-medal-winning U23 team in Paris 2024.
His long-awaited senior debut call-up comes amid intense competition from established stars like Unai Simón, David Raya, and Álex Remiro. Reports indicate this March squad features four goalkeepers in total — a departure from tradition — as De la Fuente evaluates options ahead of major tournaments.
The inclusion has generated significant buzz, with many viewing it as recognition of García’s consistent excellence rather than a sudden breakthrough.
De la Fuente’s comments reinforce Spain’s confidence in its goalkeeping pool as the team builds toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
