The idea of a Basque national team that could compete in international sporting events has been pursued for a century. Think of how Scotland and Wales can compete in the World Cup. While Euskadi has long had a national team that competes in unofficial events such as soccer friendlies, there are only a few sports where they are formally recognized. This year, for the first time, Euskadi is directly represented in the Absolute World Basque Pelota Championship, a fitting event for explicit Basque representation.

• Euskal selekzioa – or the Basque National Team – is representing Euskadi at the Absolute World Basque Pelota Championship of the International Federation of Basque Pelota. This is the first time that the national Basque pelota team is competing in an international event. It was only in 2024 that the Federación de Euskadi de Pelota Vasca, which represents pelota players in the Basque Country, was admitted into the International federation.
• The championship is happening right now – October 15 to 24 – in Argentina and Uruguay. 41 players from Euskadi – the provinces of Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa – are participating across 15 different varieties of pelota, from jai alai (both individual and pairs), xare, and leather paddle versions.
• As of today, the Basque team has done quite well. In the opening day match in women’s rubber palette, the Basque team beat Spain 2-1. As of Saturday, October 17, the Basque team won 9 of the 11 matches they have played.
• In the past, players represented Spain. For example, Eneritz Lizardi and Maria Ortiz de Mendibil won the jai alai championship in Biarritz four years ago, but there they wore a Spanish jersey. Now, they are part of the Basque team representing Euskadi.
• The idea of a Basque national team, or Euskal Selekzioa, has been around for many years. The Basque Country has had a national football (soccer) team since 1930. However, while that team has played friendly matches across the years, it has not been able to officially participate in major championships like the World Cup. They have been able to participate in amateur competitions such as the UEFA Regions’ Cup.
• There are two other sports in which the national Basque team is recognized and can participate. Since 2014, the Basque team has been recognized as a full member of the Sokatira or Tug of War International Federation. They won both men’s and women’s gold in 2016. The Basque Quadball (formerly known as Quidditch) team is also recognized internationally.

A full list of all of Buber’s Basque Facts of the Week can be found in the Archive.

Primary sources: «Herri oso bat» ordezkatuko du euskal pilota selekzioak Munduko Txapelketan by Julen Etxeberria, Berria; Estos son los pelotaris que representarán a Euskal Selekzioa en su primer Mundial by Igor Vico, Noticias de Navarra; Basque Country national football team, Wikipedia