Joan García is experiencing a paradoxical situation. The goalkeeper for FC Barcelona is putting in brilliant performances in goal for the Blaugrana, establishing himself as one of the revelations of Hansi Flick's team, but his excellent performance is not opening the doors to the Spanish National Team.
Luis de la Fuente, in statements to the newspaper As, has made it clear that the goalkeeper from Sallent is on a waiting list along with two other goalkeepers, ranking behind Unai Simón, David Raya, and Álex Remiro for the 2026 World Cup
Even during his last season at Espanyol, Joan García proved he had more than enough quality to make the leap to the senior team. His signing for Barça last summer seemed like the definitive springboard to wear the Spanish jersey, but surprisingly the national team coach has not yet called him up.
And it hasn't been for lack of merit. The Barcelona goalkeeper has adapted brilliantly to the demands of Camp Nou, becoming one of the main protagonists of Hansi Flick's team despite suffering an injury that kept him out of action for a few weeks.
De la Fuente maintains the World Cup squad list ¡closed!
The Basque coach has been clear about his goalkeeping policy. Luis de la Fuente has a very defined hierarchy in goal and fully trusts the trio formed by Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), and Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad).
This confidence has not wavered since he took over as coach in 2022, and the only significant change in the goalkeepers' list occurred during the last European Championship, when Remiro moved ahead of Robert Sánchez as the third-choice goalkeeper.
In his interview with As, De la Fuente acknowledged Joan García's quality but placed him in a second tier alongside two other goalkeepers: "Joan García? We don't talk about Robert Sánchez or Leo Román either, who are fantastic goalkeepers."
Now three are coming, and we are delighted with them. But we will see what happens between now and March, and between now and June. Calm down, a decision will have to be made and the best one will be made," stated the coach.
These words suggest that the Spanish coach does not foresee immediate changes to his goalkeeping roster for the 2026 World Cup, unless exceptional circumstances force him to do so
Joan García: A Promising Future in Goal for Barça and the National Team
Although the current situation is frustrating for a goalkeeper who is proving his worth at one of the most demanding clubs in the world, Joan García's future in the Spanish national team looks promising in the medium term.At just 24 years old, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper has plenty of time to establish himself as a real alternative in the national goal. His progression in the Culé squad and the natural rotation of players in any national team suggest that, sooner or later, he will end up receiving the call from Luis de la FuenteMeanwhile, **Joan García** will have to continue proving his level between the blue and red goalposts. Every spectacular save, every solid match, and every decisive performance in **LaLiga** or the **Champions League** will be arguments that will bolster his candidacy.The competition is fierce, but the Barcelona goalkeeper's talent and quality are undeniable. It's only a matter of time before his name is strongly mentioned on the Roja's lists