Euskadi will play against Venezuela on November 14th at San Mamés Stadium, as part of the commemorative events for the 90th anniversary of the first Basque Government. The Basque Football Federation presented this Thursday at the Hotel Carlton in Bilbao the match between the Euskal Selekzioa and Venezuela.
The match will take place on Saturday, November 14th, at 8:00 PM. The event, framed within the commemorative acts for the 90th anniversary of the first Basque Government, will also mark the beginning of a new era for the Basque national team.
The event was attended by Iker Goñi, president of the Basque Football Federation; Ibone Bengoetxea, first vice-lehendakari and Minister of Culture and Linguistic Policy; and former footballers José Ángel Iribar, Xabi Prieto, and Mikel Labaka, in a conversation moderated by journalist Olga Grande.
During his speech, Goñi highlighted the historical link between lehendakari José Antonio Agirre and Basque football, recalling the journey of the Euzkadi team that toured various countries in 1937 in defense of Basque self-government, freedom, and democracy.
The first vice-lehendakari, Ibone Bengoetxea, stated: "There are matches that last ninety minutes and there are matches that represent ninety years of history. The encounter between Euskadi and Venezuela is one of them: an event that allows us to remember who we were, recognize the bonds that unite us, and continue projecting to the world an open, democratic Euskadi proud of its identity."
She also emphasized: “The Euskadi Selection is part of our collective memory. It was born in one of the most difficult moments in our history and carried the voice of a people that wanted to continue existing to the world. Ninety years later, it remains a symbol of Euskadi's identity, coexistence, and international projection."
The choice of Venezuela also responds to the deep historical and human ties between both peoples. The Latin American country hosted numerous Basques who had to leave Euskadi during difficult times, leading to a relationship that remains alive through the diaspora. The match aims to recognize this shared history and those who have contributed to keeping it alive generation after generation.
Beyond the commemoration, the Federation's president stressed that the match represents the beginning of a new era for Euskal Selekzioa, with the aim of making it a meeting space for the entire society.
«We want Euskal Selekzioa to be much more than a football team. We want it to be a space for encounter», affirmed Goñi, who advocated for a team capable of uniting diverse generations, territories, origins, and sensibilities.
In this regard, he recalled the recent match against Palestine as an example of football's ability to generate emotions, awaken solidarity, and bring people together beyond their differences. «You don't have to like football to come and see Euskal Selekzioa», he pointed out.
The presentation also served to introduce the new identity of the Basque selection and to screen the audiovisual pieces "Hemen elkartzen gara" and "El encuentro," which reflect the spirit of this new phase and the human and cultural dimension of the match.
The Basque Football Federation invites all citizens to join this event and fill San Mamés on November 14th, celebrating the start of an era that aims to strengthen the bond between Euskal Selekzioa and Basque society, as well as the historical ties that unite Euskadi and Venezuela.
