Basque Country national football team

On 29 September 1913 the Royal Spanish Football Federation was formally created and along with it four regional federations (Norte, Oeste, Este and Centro). Each regional federation organised its own league, and also selected a team to play against other regions. The Basque Country was grouped with Cantabria in 'Norte' (North). As most of the biggest teams in the Norte federation were Basque, such as Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Real Unión, and Arenas Club de Getxo, the team fielded by the federation was often composed entirely of Basque players, and was called 'Vasconia', 'el equipo Vasco'{{cite web|title=Mundo Deportivo newspaper, 21 December 1914 in Spanish|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1914/12/21/MD19141221-003.pdf|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135019/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1914/12/21/MD19141221-003.pdf|url-status=live}}(the Basque team), or sometimes just 'Norte'. On 3 January 1915 they played their first match which was against Catalonia in Bilbao and won 6–1,{{cite web|title=Vasconia-Cataluña|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1915/01/04/MD19150104-001.pdf|work=Mundo Deportivo 4 January 1915, in Spanish|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002059/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1915/01/04/MD19150104-001.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Catalanes y Vascos|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=/EL%20NERVI%D3N/1915/19150100/19150104/0000009.jpg&Formato=0|work=El Nervion|date=4 January 1915|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111334/http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=/EL%20NERVI%D3N/1915/19150100/19150104/0000009.jpg&Formato=0|url-status=live}} and then on 7 February they played them again but in Barcelona, this time drawing 2–2.{{cite web|title=Vasconia-Cataluña, El Gran Match|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1915/02/08/LVG19150208-004.pdf|work=La Vanguardia|date=8 February 1915|language=Spanish|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714182627/http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1915/02/08/LVG19150208-004.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Vasconia-Cataluña|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1915/02/04/LVG19150204-005.pdf|work=La Vanguardia|date=4 February 1915|language=Spanish|access-date=26 June 2014}} In May 1915 they won the inaugural Copa del Príncipe de Asturias tournament in Madrid after beating Catalonia 1–0 with a goal from Legarreta and then holding the hosts, 'Centro' (a Castile/Madrid XI), to a 1–1 draw, in which the author of the Basque goal was Patricio.{{cite web|title=Copa del Principe de Asturias|url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002756465&search=&lang=en|work=Heraldo Deportivo|date=1 June 1915|access-date=4 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124605/http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002756465&search=&lang=en|url-status=live}} In the same competition they drew 1–1 with.{{cite web|title=Centro contra Norte 1 a 1|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1915/05/17/MD19150517-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=17 May 1915|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108231551/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1915/05/17/MD19150517-001.pdf|url-status=live}} In May 1916, 'Norte' faced Catalonia twice in Barcelona, winning by 1–3 on the 21st,{{cite web|title=Triunfo de la seleccion del Norte|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=%2FEL+NERVI%D3N%2F1916%2F19160500%2F19160522%2F0000078%2Ejpg&Formato=0|work=El Nervion|date=22 May 1916|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183821/http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=%2FEL+NERVI%D3N%2F1916%2F19160500%2F19160522%2F0000078%2Ejpg&Formato=0|url-status=live}} and drawing 0–0 on the 22nd. On 4 June of the same year they beat Catalonia 5–0 in Bilbao.{{cite web|title=Vasconia – Cataluña|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=/EL%20NERVI%D3N/1916/19160600/19160605/0000014.jpg&Formato=0|work=El Nervion|date=5 June 1916|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113641/http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=/EL%20NERVI%D3N/1916/19160600/19160605/0000014.jpg&Formato=0|url-status=live}}

On 22 November 1916 the Cantabrian teams left the North Federation, joining the newly formed Cantabrian Federation (Federación Cantábrica de Clubes de Football), which encompassed Asturian and Cantabrian clubs. This Asturias/Cantabria XI participated in the 1917 and 1918 editions of the Copa del Príncipe de Asturias, finishing third and second respectively. In 1918 the province of Gipuzkoa formed its own federation and its own team, leaving the province of Biscay on their own in Federation Norte.{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/1918/05/07/pagina-2/607728/pdf.html |title=Vizcaya-Guípúscoa The lawsuit gives the contrast with National Committee |access-date=3 May 2009 |date=7 May 1918 |work=El Mundo Deportivo |archive-date=17 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817194752/http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/1918/05/07/pagina-2/607728/pdf.html |url-status=live }} In 1919 the Asturians decided to form their own federation (Federación Regional Asturiana de Clubes de Fútbol) so the Cantabrian teams rejoined 'Norte', but now it only had teams from Cantabria and Biscay. This complicated situation of federations splitting off continued for a few more years. In 1922 separate teams were created for Biscay and Cantabria because the former decided to form their own federation (Biscayan Federation).{{cite web|title=La Federacion Norte continúa su asambleas|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1922/08/14/MD19220814-005.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=14 August 1922|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130102/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1922/08/14/MD19220814-005.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Mundo deportivo newspaper, 30/10/1922|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1922/10/30/pagina-4/612805/pdf.html|access-date=25 June 2014}}

In the summer of 1922 a team calling itself 'the Basque team' (Equipo Vasco) was sent to South America. Although the trip was organised by the Gipuzkoan federation, 4 of the 19 players in the squad were from the Biscayan federation.{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1922/06/26/MD19220626-005.pdf|title=El Equipo Vasco está en camino de América|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=26 June 1922|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203950/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1922/06/26/MD19220626-005.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Unos Comentarios|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=20&Fichero=/GACETA%20DEL%20NORTE/1922/19220600/19220625/0000149.jpg&Formato=0|work=La Gaceta del Norte|date=25 June 1922|access-date=2 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183824/http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=20&Fichero=/GACETA%20DEL%20NORTE/1922/19220600/19220625/0000149.jpg&Formato=0|url-status=live}} They played once against the Argentine national side, losing 4–0, then drew 1–1 against Porteño, and finally winning 0–4 against a team selected from Argentina's interior league.{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1922/08/04/LVG19220804-005.pdf|title=Los Vascos en la Argentina|work=La Vanguardia|date=4 August 1922|language=Spanish|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222322/http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1922/08/04/LVG19220804-005.pdf|url-status=live}} The team also played the Uruguayan national side twice, losing both games,{{cite web|url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0004030541&page=6&search=%22seleccion+vasca%22&lang=en|title=En el Uruguay, pierden nuevamente por 3–1|trans-title=In Uruguay, they lose again by 3-1|language=es|work=La Journada Deportiva|date=1 September 1922|access-date=8 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150125/http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0004030541&page=6&search=%22seleccion+vasca%22&lang=en|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1922/08/28/MD19220828-006.pdf|title=El Mundo Deportivo newspaper archive, 28 August 1922, in Spanish|access-date=25 June 2014}} before visiting Brazil where they played in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1922/10/06/022.html|title=ABC newspaper, 6 October 1922, in Spanish|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023751/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1922/10/06/022.html|url-status=live}}

After the team had arrived back in Spain on 5 October 1922, the players resumed playing for either Biscay or Gipuzkoa. Both Gipuzkoa and Biscay participated in the 1922-23 and 1923-24 Copa del Príncipe de Asturias, with the later reaching the semi-finals of the 1923-24 edition after defeating Asturias in Bilbao 4–2 thanks to a second-half brace from Travieso,{{cite web|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=%2FEL+NERVI%D3N%2F1923%2F19231100%2F19231119%2F0000096%2Ejpg&Formato=0|title=Gran triufo de la seleccion Vizcaina sobre la Asturiana|work=El Nervion|date=19 November 1923|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173542/http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=10&Fichero=%2FEL%20NERVI%D3N%2F1923%2F19231100%2F19231119%2F0000096.jpg&Formato=0|url-status=live}} but then lost to eventual champions Catalonia, who had already eliminated Gipuzkoa from the competition.

File:L'Athletic Bilbao, en avril 1937 (déplacement ici à Paris, et champion d'Espagne un an auparavant).jpg

It wasn't until 1930 that the Biscayan and Gipuzkoan federations finally came together to create the first permanent team with the name 'Vasconia' ('Baskoniako selekzioa') to represent the Basque Country. Their first game was against Catalonia on 8 June 1930, which they won by 0–1 in Montjuïc, and they played Catalonia again on 1 January 1931 in Bilbao, winning that match 3–2.{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1931/01/02/039.html|title=ABC newspaper archive, 2 January 1931, in Spanish|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225234211/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1931/01/02/039.html|url-status=live}}

During the first year of the Spanish Civil War the Basque team changed its name to Euzkadiko selekzioa. Their first match with that name was against Cantabria on 29 November 1936 in Santander, when the Cantabrians won 3–2.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=20&Fichero=/GACETA%20DEL%20NORTE/1936/19361100/19361128/0000157.jpg&Formato=0|title=Selección Cántabra-Selección Vasca|trans-title=Cantabrian Selection-Basque Selection|language=es|work=La Gaceta del Norte|date=28 November 1936|access-date=25 August 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bizkaia.net/kultura/foru_liburutegia/liburutegi_digitala/detalle.asp?Tem_Codigo=2542&Idioma=CA&IdP=20&Fichero=/GACETA%20DEL%20NORTE/1936/19361200/19361201/0000006.jpg&Formato=0|title=Vascos y Montañeses|trans-title=Basques and Mountains|language=es|work=La Gaceta del Norte|date=1 December 1936|access-date=25 August 2014}}

In 1937 the first president of the Basque autonomous region José Antonio Aguirre, who in his youth had been a player for Athletic Bilbao, decided to send a Basque football team abroad with the dual aim of raising money to fund the cost of the civil war, and also as a form of propaganda letting the world know about the conflict in Spain.{{cite web|url=http://www.deia.com/2012/02/12/deportes/futbol/la-orgullosa-genesis-de-la-seleccion-vasca-de-futbol|title=La orgullosa génesis de la Selección Vasca de Fútbol.|work=Deia|date=12 February 2012|language=Spanish|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731165314/http://www.deia.com/2012/02/12/deportes/futbol/la-orgullosa-genesis-de-la-seleccion-vasca-de-futbol|archive-date=31 July 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=25 August 2014}}{{Cite web |url=https://as.com/futbol/2016/10/10/mas_futbol/1476085009_819495.html|title=La selección de Euskadi parte para América (1937)|trans-title=The Basque selection leaves for America (1937) |language=es |work=Diario AS|author=Alfredo Relaño|date=10 October 2016|access-date=19 March 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2018/06/15/especiales/mundial-rusia-2018/cuando-euzkadi-jugo-en-rusia|title=Cuando 'Euzkadi' jugó en Rusia|trans-title=When 'Euzkadi' played in Russia|language=es|work=Noticias de Navarra|date=15 June 2018|access-date=18 March 2019|archive-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821160422/http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2018/06/15/especiales/mundial-rusia-2018/cuando-euzkadi-jugo-en-rusia|url-status=dead}} At the same time a choir called Eresoinka was formed to tour Europe for the same purpose. Money raised was reportedly used to fund a hospital in La Rosarie, France,{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1938/01/14/MD19380114-001.pdf|title=Todos los futbolistas vascos siguen a las órdenes de su Gobierno|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=14 January 1938|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714112242/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1938/01/14/MD19380114-001.pdf|url-status=live}} used by Spanish refugees, and also to help support the thousands of Basque children who had been sent abroad for safety.

The team consisted of the following players:

• Goalkeepers: Gregorio Blasco (Athletic) and Rafael Eguzkiza (Arenas);
• Defenders: Serafín Aedo (Betis), Pedro Areso (Barcelona) and Pablito Barcos (Barakaldo);
• Midfield: Leonardo Cilaurren (Athletic), Jose Muguerza (Athletic), Pedro Regueiro (Madrid), Roberto Etxebarria Arruti (Athletic), Ángel Zubieta (Athletic), Tomas Agirre (Nîmes) and Enrique Larrinaga (Racing);
• Forwards: Jose Iraragorri (Athletic), Emilio Alonso (Madrid), Isidro Lángara (Oviedo), Luis Regueiro (Madrid), Ignacio Agirrezabala (Chirri II) (no team), José Manuel Urquiola (Athletic Madrid), Guillermo Gorostiza (Athletic);
• Coach: Pedro Vallana

Also attached to the team were Perico Birichinaga, as a masseur, and Ricardo Irezábal and Manu de la Sota, both as delegates.{{cite web|title=Encyclopedia Vasco|url=http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/26963?idi=es|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=29 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229181951/http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/26963?idi=es|url-status=live}}

The team made its debut on Monday 26 April 1937 in Paris's Parc des Princes against the French champions, Racing Paris, winning 0–3.{{cite web|title=De la Seleccion Vasca que triumfó espléndidamente|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/04/30/MD19370430-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=30 April 1937|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171924/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/04/30/MD19370430-001.pdf|url-status=live}} This happened to be the same day that Guernica was bombed by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe. In May 1937 they toured France beating Olympique Marseille 2–5,{{cite web|title=Apre un match joue sous la pluie, l'OM battu est devenu Champion de France|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6464234j/f6.image.r=%20equipe%20basque%20%20marseille%20football.langFR|work=Rouge-midi|date=25 May 1937|access-date=10 July 2014|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108070004/http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6464234j/f6.image.r=%20equipe%20basque%20%20marseille%20football.langFR|url-status=live}} losing 3–1 to Sète, and playing Racing Paris twice more, 3–3 and 2–3.

In May 1937, the team began to have problems with FIFA. Due to the civil war in Spain FIFA had banned all FIFA-affiliated countries and clubs from playing any Spanish teams.{{cite web|title=¿Y la participacion de España?|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/11/07/MD19371107-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=7 November 1937|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230503/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/11/07/MD19371107-001.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=¿La FIFA reconoce la beligerancia a Franco?|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/09/13/MD19370913-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=13 September 1937|access-date=4 July 2014}} A match due to take place on 30 May in the Netherlands against Rotterdam was cancelled by the Dutch Federation.{{cite web|title=¿Ha prohibido la Federacion Holandesa el match Rotterdam-Seleccion Vasca?|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/05/30/MD19370530-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=30 May 1937|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714212921/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/05/30/MD19370530-001.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Les Basques indesirables en Hollande|url=http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4070916/f6.zoom.r=basques%20danois%20football%20.langEN|work=L'Humanité|date=27 May 1937|access-date=10 July 2014|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021144938/http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4070916/f6.zoom.r=basques%20danois%20football%20.langEN|url-status=live}} But many clubs and national sides continued to play the Basque team because they sympathised with Republican Spain which the team symbolised. The team's first match against a nation from outside of Spain was a 3–2 defeat, also in May 1937, to Czechoslovakia, who had been runners up in the 1934 World Cup. In June, they played Czechoslovakia again losing 2–1. Then they played Silesia in Chorzów on 9 June.

File:Товарищеские матчи. 24.06.1937.jpg

When Bilbao was captured by Franco's forces on 19 June 1937 the Basque team were in Moscow, having been invited by the Soviet Union's Politburo due to political motivations. They then toured the country during that summer, playing against Lokomotiv Moscow (1–5), Dynamo Moscow twice (1–2) and (4–7), Dinamo Leningrad (2–2), Spartak Moscow (6–2), Dynamo Kiev (1–3), Dinamo Tbilisi (0–2), the Georgian football team (1–3), and finally Dinamo Minsk (1–6). Their only loss was against Spartak Moscow. The Soviet authorities were determined to win the final game in Moscow, so the Spartak team was improved by bringing players from other parts of the country to play for the team just for that match.{{cite web|title=Arkadyev and early Russian football|url=https://mattysfootythoughts.wordpress.com/tag/euzkadi/|work=Matty's Footy thoughts|date=5 August 2013|access-date=25 August 2014|archive-date=26 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113150/https://mattysfootythoughts.wordpress.com/tag/euzkadi/|url-status=live}} Lastly they travelled to Norway and Denmark in August where they beat an Østfold select (1–3), Norwegian AIF (2–3), and completed their biggest win to date against Denmark's {{ill|Danish Workers' Sports Association|lt=DAI|dk|Dansk Arbejder Idrætsforbund|vertical-align=sup}} (1–11).

In the autumn of 1937 the team crossed the Atlantic to play in Mexico where FIFA had given them permission to play clubs and the national side.{{cite web|title=La Seleccion Vasca ha embarcado para Méjico|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/11/01/MD19371101-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=1 November 1937|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714113814/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1937/11/01/MD19371101-001.pdf|url-status=live}} FC Barcelona had undertaken a similar tour a few months earlier.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/3160810/barcelona-saved-by-tour-of-mexico-and-united-states-over-80-years-ago|title=The tour that saved FC Barcelona|publisher=ESPN|author=Jordi Blanco|date=20 July 2017|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=28 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228022307/https://www.espn.com/soccer/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/3160810/barcelona-saved-by-tour-of-mexico-and-united-states-over-80-years-ago|url-status=live}} After playing nine matches in the capital{{cite web|title=La despedida de los futbolistas vascos en Mejico|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1938/01/28/MD19380128-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=28 January 1938|access-date=3 July 2014}} and one in Guadalajara they crossed over to Cuba where their problems with FIFA got worse.{{cite web|title=Los Vascos llegaron a Cuba el 13 de Enero|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1938/02/03/pagina-1/626704/pdf.html|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=3 February 1938|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714215142/http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1938/02/03/pagina-1/626704/pdf.html|url-status=live}} FIFA demanded that Cuba should not play the Basque Country. So the Basque team only played club sides, playing four matches, winning one and losing two. Next they travelled to Argentina, arriving on 25 February 1938. They stayed there for three months but officially played no matches due to their problems with FIFA. As they had run out of money and had no way of raising any, many of the big Argentine sides raised money for them.{{cite web|title=Una Odisea de los Vascos|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1938/05/02/MD19380502-001.pdf|work=El Mundo Deportivo|date=2 May 1938|access-date=3 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214100/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1938/05/02/MD19380502-001.pdf|url-status=live}} They then crossed the Andes to Valparaíso, Chile, where on 9 May 1938 they played Santiago Wanderers,{{cite web|title=Arrojos, dichas y nostalgias Vascos en el Valparaíso del siglo XX|url=http://www.euskoetxea.cl/libro.html|work=Eusko Etxea de Valparaíso|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714193950/http://www.euskoetxea.cl/libro.html|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}} but the result is not known. Later in May they travelled again to Cuba,{{cite web|title=La excursion de los jugadores vascos|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1938/07/14/LVG19380714-005.pdf|work=La Vanguardia|date=14 July 1938|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714124938/http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1938/07/14/LVG19380714-005.pdf|url-status=live}} this time playing the Cuba national team twice, before returning to Mexico. In the 1938–39 season they played under the name Club Deportivo Euzkadi in the Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association,{{cite web|title=Mexico, Julio 29|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getimage.dll?path=EDT/1938/07/30/7/Img/Ar0071301.png|work=El Siglo del Torreón|date=30 July 1938|access-date=4 August 2014|archive-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050602/http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getimage.dll?path=EDT/1938/07/30/7/Img/Ar0071301.png|url-status=live}} one of the two major leagues in Mexico at that time where they won 7, drew 1 and lost 4 games,{{cite web |title=1938–39 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/mexhist.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=1 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402011950/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/mexhist.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }} eventually coming runners up in the league. The Spanish civil war ended in April 1939 so when the season ended the team was broken up and as a reward each member received 10,000 pesetas. Most of the players stayed on in the Americas and joined teams there.

Between 1939 and 1975 the Basque football team played only twice due to General Franco's dictatorship which severely limited the freedoms previously enjoyed by the regions of Spain. The first time was on 25 June 1966 on the 50th anniversary of Real Unión's founding. A team made up of players from the Basque Country played Real Madrid in the Gal Stadium in Irun, losing 0–2.{{cite web|title=El Real Madrid Derrota a la Seleccion Vasca por 2–0|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1966/06/28/104.html|work=ABC Newspaper|date=28 June 1966|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151742/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1966/06/28/104.html|url-status=live}} Playing for the Basque Country were Carmelo Cedrún, (Alarcia), Gorriti, Martínez, Marigil, (Zabala), Azcárate, (Iruretagoyena), Iguarán, Amas, Dionisio Urreizti, Landa, (Chapela), Mauri, (Mendiluce) and Erro.{{cite web|author=diariovasco.com|title=Ferenc Puskas sí llegó a jugar en el Stadium Gal|date=28 November 2006|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/prensa/20061128/bidasoa/ferenc-puskas-llego-jugar_20061128.html|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231501/http://www.diariovasco.com/prensa/20061128/bidasoa/ferenc-puskas-llego-jugar_20061128.html|url-status=live}} Don Santiago Bernabéu had the honour of kicking off.{{cite web|title=Real Madrid's records|url=http://www.leyendablanca.galeon.com/tempo66.HTM|language=Spanish|access-date=24 June 2014}}

The second time was in San Mamés, Bilbao, on 21 February 1971 when a memorial match for Juan Gardeazábal was played between the Basque Country and Catalonia. The Basque Country lost 1–2.{{cite web|title=ABC newspaper archive 23/2/71|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1971/02/23/066.htm|language=Spanish|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043158/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1971/02/23/066.htm|url-status=dead}} Playing for the Basque Country were Zamora, Deusto, Irusquieta, Zugazaga, Echeberría, Lema, Guisasola, Estéfano, Santamaría, Arambarri, Ibáñez, Marañon, Fernando Ansola, Araquistáin, Rojo II, Urtiaga, and Ortuondo.{{cite web|title=Hoy, homenaje nacional postumo a Juan Gardeazábal, en San Mamés|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1971/02/21/LVG19710221-039.pdf|work=La Vanguardia|date=21 February 1971|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185602/http://hemeroteca-paginas.lavanguardia.com/LVE07/HEM/1971/02/21/LVG19710221-039.pdf|url-status=live}}

The first game following the dictatorship was played on 2 March 1978 in San Mamés against the USSR.{{cite web|title=ABC newspaper archive, 2/3/78, in Spanish|date=12 August 2019|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1978/03/02/068.html|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219143914/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1978/03/02/068.html|url-status=live}} The team were called the 'Selección Vasca' and drew 0–0.

On 16 August 1979 they played under the name 'Euskadiko selekzioa' for the first time since 1938 at San Mames stadium during the Great Week of Bilbao, winning 4–1 against a League of Ireland XI.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstalk.com/uncategorized/the-symbolic-night-a-league-of-ireland-xi-faced-their-basque-counterparts-253357|title=The symbolic day an Irish XI faced their Basque counterparts|work=Newstalk|author=Marcus Maher|date=18 February 2017|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423093834/https://www.newstalk.com/uncategorized/the-symbolic-night-a-league-of-ireland-xi-faced-their-basque-counterparts-253357|archive-date=23 April 2019|url-status=dead}} Controversy was caused before the match by the Spanish government deciding that the song of the Basque football team (Gernikako Arbola – The Tree of Guernica){{cite news |title=El País newspaper archive 17/8/79 in Spanish |newspaper=El País |date=17 August 1979 |url=http://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/17/deportes/303688804_850215.html |access-date=25 June 2014 |last1=Angulo |first1=Javier |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221303/http://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/17/deportes/303688804_850215.html |url-status=live }} should not be sung before the game. This resulted in Carlos Garaikoetxea (the Lehendakari, head of the Basque regional parliament), the presidents of the regional councils and the mayors of the Basque capitals, all leaving the presidential box to sit elsewhere in the stadium to show their protest. CA Osasuna was the only club with players called up for the match who refused to release them.{{cite web|title=El Osasuna justifica la ausencia de Iriguibel en la seleccion de Euzkadi|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1979/08/18/040.html|work=ABC newspaper, 18 August 1979|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920074706/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1979/08/18/040.html|url-status=live}} Iraragorri and Langara (two players from the 1937 team) kicked off, and Iribar served as captain. The game was played as a fundraiser for a campaign promoting the Basque language called "Bai Euskarari", organized by Sustraiak, as a response to its suppression during the dictatorship.

A few months later the Basque team won again, 4–0 against Bulgaria in San Sebastián's Atotxa Stadium. In 1980, in Vitoria, they lost 1–5 to Hungary. Other key matches included defeats to Cameroon (0–1) and Wales (0–1), and victory over Serbia (4–0). Then, in 2007, after 69 years without playing outside Spain, the Basque Country faced Venezuela in San Cristóbal, winning 4–3.{{cite web|title=Pays Basque bat Venezuela 4 à 3|url=http://fr.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/538/159/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095344/http://fr.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/538/159/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|publisher=FIFA|date=21 June 2007|language=French|access-date=25 August 2014}} Prior to this, their last game outside Spain had been in June 1939, in the Spanish Civil War era against Club Atlético Corrales in Mexico City.{{cite web|title=Los Vascos y los Paraguayos en un empate a 4 goals|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getimage.dll?path=EDT/1939/06/19/6/Img/Ar0061302.png|work=El Siglo del Torreón|date=19 June 1939|access-date=4 August 2014|archive-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050322/http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getimage.dll?path=EDT/1939/06/19/6/Img/Ar0061302.png|url-status=live}}

File:Euskal Herria - Catalunya.jpg

In 2007 the team's name was changed to 'Euskal Herria' (Euskal Herriko Futbol Selekzioa), and on 29 December they played a match against Catalonia in San Mames. The result was Euskal Herria 1, Catalonia 1.{{cite web|title=EUSKAL HERRIA- CATALUÑA 1–1: Empate en un partido histórico en San Mamés.|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/20071229/deportes/selecciones-san-mames-partido-euskal-herria-catalunya-200712291626.html|work=Diario Vasco|date=29 December 2007|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908201950/http://www.diariovasco.com/20071229/deportes/selecciones-san-mames-partido-euskal-herria-catalunya-200712291626.html|url-status=live}}

The name change, driven by the Basque Football Federation, was denounced by politicians from the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV),{{cite web|title=Euskal Herria contra Euskadi|url=http://www.diariovasco.com/20071216/politica/euskal-herria-contra-euskadi-20071216.html|work=Diario Vasco|date=16 December 2007|access-date=24 June 2014|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201200603/http://www.diariovasco.com/20071216/politica/euskal-herria-contra-euskadi-20071216.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2007/12/28/espana/1198796415_850215.html|title=Giro 'abertzale' en la selección vasca|date=28 December 2007|work=El País|last1=Rodrigálvarez|first1=Eduardo|archive-date=22 December 2017|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222110532/https://elpais.com/diario/2007/12/28/espana/1198796415_850215.html|url-status=live}} including the Lehendakari, Juan José Ibarretxe,{{cite news|title=Ibarretxe asegura que el cambio de nombre de la selección vasca "puede ser discutible"|url=http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20071221/politica/ibarretxe-asegura-cambio-nombre-20071221.html|work=El Correo|language=Spanish|date=21 December 2007|access-date=23 June 2014|archive-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908181000/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20071221/politica/ibarretxe-asegura-cambio-nombre-20071221.html|url-status=live}} and also the main Spanish political parties such as the Partido Popular (PP) and PSOE. For this reason the Basque Football Federation proposed returning to the team's previous name, 'Euskadi' (Euskadiko Selekzioa), for the match scheduled for December 2008 against Iran. 165 Basque players signed a statement announcing that they would not play unless the team was called 'Euskal Herria'.{{cite web|url=https://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20081115/deportes/mas-futbol/pide-jugadores-caigan-trampa-20081115.html|title=El PNV pide a los jugadores que no caigan en la 'trampa de la izquierda abertzale'|date=15 November 2008|website=El Correo|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201137/https://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20081115/deportes/mas-futbol/pide-jugadores-caigan-trampa-20081115.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Los futbolistas Vascos no irán a su seleccion si no se llama Euskal Herria|url=http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20081113/deportes/mas-futbol/futbolistas-vascos-iran-seleccion-200811131620.html|work=El Correo|date=13 November 2008|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908181154/http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20081113/deportes/mas-futbol/futbolistas-vascos-iran-seleccion-200811131620.html|url-status=live}} The controversy went beyond the sports arena and against this statement were positioned many political parties such as the PNV, PSE-PSOE and PP, and supporting it were Eusko Alkartasuna, Ezker Batua and Eusko Abertzale Ekintza. At the heart of this dispute were the meanings of the two terms 'Euskadi' and 'Euskal Herria'. For the politicians of the PNV who favoured the name 'Euskadi', they saw this as the historic name used by the Basque football team since the 1930s and geographically they said it always included the Spanish Basque Country, the French Basque Country and Navarre (from where the players are selected), but to the players and the politicians supporting them, only the term 'Euskal Herria' had this geographic meaning and to them 'Euskadi' only referred to the Spanish Basque Country. This difference of opinion encompassed the nuances of the names, their history known or unknown, and changing public opinions towards what name should be used when referring to all people of Basque culture. In the end the match was cancelled.

In 2009 a consensus was reached to use the name 'Euskal Selekzioa'. However, discrepancies between the federation, players and ESAIT led to the match, scheduled again to be played against Iran, not to be played. In 2010 however, although there was still no agreement between players and federation, the players agreed to play the match to be played on 29 December in San Mames, between the Basque Country and Venezuela, which ended 3–1.{{cite web|title=Basque Selection 3–1 Venezuela|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/photos/galleries/gallery=1357347.html#1357342|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817114610/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/photos/galleries/gallery=1357347.html#1357342|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 August 2014|publisher=FIFA|access-date=4 August 2014}}{{cite web|title=Basque XI|url=http://info.nowgoal.com/en/team/CTeamSche.aspx?TeamID=16339|work=NOWGOAL|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=8 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053726/http://info.nowgoal.com/en/team/CTeamSche.aspx?TeamID=16339|url-status=dead}} At this match the gold badge of honour of the Basque Football Federation was presented to Joseba Etxeberria, former player of Athletic Club Bilbao, for being the most capped player of the Basque team, and he was allowed to take the kick-off.

File:Euskal Selekzioa - Catalunya. San Mames, 2014-12-28.jpg

In 2011 the Basque football team played two matches. Firstly on 25 May they visited Estonia, winning 1–2,{{cite web|url=http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=756|title=Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea – Federación Vasca de Fútbol|website=eff-fvf.eus|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=12 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212143914/http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=756|url-status=dead}} then on 28 December they played their last game in the old San Mamés against Tunisia, losing 0–2.{{cite news|url=http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=779|title=Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea – Federación Vasca de Fútbol|website=eff-fvf.eus|archive-date=12 December 2018|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212175746/http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=779|url-status=dead}}

In December 2012 they played Bolivia in San Sebastián, winning 6–1.{{cite web|url=http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=884|title=Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea – Federación Vasca de Fútbol|website=eff-fvf.eus|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222191814/http://www.eff-fvf.eus/pub/verFichaPartido.asp?idioma=ca&idPartido=884|url-status=dead}}

On 28 December 2013, the Basque team played its first match in the new San Mames stadium against Peru{{cite web|url=https://peru.com/futbol/internacional/seleccion-vasca-ira-todo-amistoso-contra-peru-noticia-208479|title=Selección Vasca irá con todo en el amistoso contra Perú|trans-title=Basque team will go with everything in the friendly against Peru|language=es|date=11 November 2013|website=Peru.com}} winning 6–0.{{cite web|title=Seleccion Absoluta|url=http://www.eff-fvf.org/pub/calendarioEliminatoriaSelEspecial.asp?idioma=ca&idCompeticion=15|publisher=Basque Football Federation|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-date=7 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707092103/http://www.eff-fvf.org/pub/calendarioEliminatoriaSelEspecial.asp?idioma=ca&idCompeticion=15|url-status=dead}}

On 28 December 2014, a centenary match was played in San Mames against Catalonia to celebrate 100 years since the first match between these two sides. The game ended 1–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/20141228/futbol/1-1-euskadi-y-catalunya-empatan-a-goles-en-el-partido-del-centenario_54422189959.html|title=1–1: Euskadi y Catalunya empatan a goles en el partido del Centenario|trans-title=1–1: Basque Country and Catalonia draw in the Centenary match|language=es|work=Mundo Deportivo|date=29 December 2014|access-date=11 June 2018}} The same teams played a year later, with Aritz Aduriz scoring the only goal in a 1–0 Basque win in Barcelona.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2015/12/26/mas_futbol/1451170418_459821.html|title=Aduriz da un nueva victoria de Euskadi ante Cataluña|trans-title=Aduriz gives a new victory for the Basques against Catalonia|language=es|work=Diario AS|date=27 December 2015|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=20 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320205738/https://as.com/futbol/2015/12/26/mas_futbol/1451170418_459821.html|url-status=live}}

In October 2017, the federation confirmed that the Basque team would not play a friendly in late December that year as had become traditional (for reasons including scheduling difficulties, credibility in the football community and a noted decline in attendances at the festive matches), but instead would look to schedule a fixture during one of the FIFA International Match Calendar dates, possibly in March 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/guipuzcoa/20171026/432371416124/la-euskal-selekzioa-no-jugara-en-navidades.html|title=La Euskal Selekzioa no jugará en navidades|trans-title=The Basque Select will not play during the festive season|language=es|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|date=26 October 2017|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223101959/http://www.mundodeportivo.com/guipuzcoa/20171026/432371416124/la-euskal-selekzioa-no-jugara-en-navidades.html|url-status=live}} However, a proposed meeting with Chile did not come to pass.{{cite news|url=https://www.eitb.eus/es/deportes/futbol/detalle/5580601/no-se-jugara-partido-euskal-selekzioa-chile/|title=No se jugará el partido entre la Euskal Selekzioa y Chile|trans-title=The game between the Basque Select and Chile will not be played|language=es|publisher=EITB |date=9 May 2018|access-date=19 June 2018}} Eventually, a fixture was arranged for the Basque team to face Venezuela in October 2018 at Mendizorroza,{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2018/08/27/mas_futbol/1535380606_659362.html|title=La Euskal Selekzioa jugará ante Venezuela el 12 de octubre|trans-title=The Basque Select will play against Venezuela on 12 October|language=es|work=Diario AS|date=27 August 2018|access-date=10 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011014544/https://as.com/futbol/2018/08/27/mas_futbol/1535380606_659362.html|url-status=live}} which they won 4–2.

The Basques' summer 2019 fixture away to Panama{{cite web|url=https://insideathletic.com/2019/02/23/euskal-selekzioa-will-play-panama-on-29-may-in-south-america/|title=Euskal Selekzioa will play Panama on 29 May in South America|website=Inside Athletic Club|date=23 February 2019|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044843/https://insideathletic.com/2019/02/23/euskal-selekzioa-will-play-panama-on-29-may-in-south-america/|url-status=live}} did little to enhance their credentials. Scheduled ten days after the 2018–19 La Liga season had ended but prior to the second division's conclusion, various factors meant experienced players were reluctant to put themselves forward for the long trip across the Atlantic, and the small squad was augmented with promising youngsters, including four who had never played at a higher level than the regional third tier with Athletic Bilbao's reserves. The match itself, described in the press as "boring at times", "bland" and "poor", petered out into a goalless draw in humid conditions, although both coaches stated they were satisfied with the outcome and the effort shown.{{cite web|url=https://www.diariovasco.com/deportes/futbol/euskalselezioa-panama-resultado-20190530071059-nt_amp.html|title=Pobre empate de la Euskal Selekzioa en Panamá|trans-title=Poor draw for the Basque Selection in Panama|language=es|work=Diario Vasco|date=30 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530064547/https://www.diariovasco.com/deportes/futbol/euskalselezioa-panama-resultado-20190530071059-nt_amp.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://eldesmarque.com/bizkaia/athletic-club/211122-sin-goles-en-panama|title=Sin goles en Panamá|trans-title=No goals in Panama|language=es|work=El Desmarque|date=30 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019|last1=Benito|first1=Iñaki|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530144551/https://eldesmarque.com/bizkaia/athletic-club/211122-sin-goles-en-panama|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.naiz.eus/en/actualidad/noticia/20190530/empate-sin-goles-ni-ritmo-de-la-euskal-selekzioa-en-panama|title=Empate sin goles ni ritmo de la Euskal Selekzioa en Panamá|trans-title=Draw without goals or rhythm for the Basque Selection in Panama|language=es|work=Naiz|date=30 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=30 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530213931/https://www.naiz.eus/en/actualidad/noticia/20190530/empate-sin-goles-ni-ritmo-de-la-euskal-selekzioa-en-panama|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/2019/05/30/mas_futbol/1559206252_926357.html|title=Empate sin goles de la Euskal Selekzioa ante Panamá|trans-title=Goalless draw for the Basque Selection against Panama|language=es|work=Diario AS|date=30 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=6 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106230445/https://as.com/futbol/2019/05/30/mas_futbol/1559206252_926357.html|url-status=live}}

A provisional announcement was made for a fixture against Argentina in October 2019,[https://www.marca.com/futbol/argentina/2019/08/28/5d66ee08268e3e77078b45ae.html Euskadi anuncia un amistoso ante Argentina, pero ésta lo niega] [Euskadi announces a friendly against Argentina, but they deny it], Marca (Spain) {{in lang|es}}, 28 August 2019 but this was never confirmed by the opposition federation and was soon cancelled officially.[https://www.mundodeportivo.com/guipuzcoa/20190906/47200723819/cancelado-al-partido-entre-la-euskal-selekzioa-y-argentina.html Cancelado al partido entre la Euskal Selekzioa y Argentina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010112536/https://www.mundodeportivo.com/guipuzcoa/20190906/47200723819/cancelado-al-partido-entre-la-euskal-selekzioa-y-argentina.html |date=10 October 2019 }} [Cancellation of the match between Basque Select and Argentina], Mundo Deportivo {{in lang|es}}, 6 September 2019 With no December fixture forthcoming, but UEFA Euro 2020 international matches to be played in Bilbao, it was reported that the Basque team may be able to arrange a match against one of the qualified teams who would meet Spain there (Poland or Sweden) as part of their preparations before the tournament.[https://as.com/futbol/2019/12/03/internacional/1575384885_651220.html?id_externo_rsoc=comp_tw Euskadi pretende a un equipo de la Eurocopa que vendrá a Bilbao] [Euskadi intends for a Eurocup team that will come to Bilbao], Diario AS {{in lang|es}}, 3 December 2019 However, the tournament was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next Basque fixture was played in November 2020 against Costa Rica in a closed doors setting due to the issue;[https://www.eitb.eus/es/deportes/futbol/detalle/7626042/convocatoria-partido-seleccion-vasca-euskal-selekzioa-costa-rica/# Javier Clemente da a conocer la convocatoria de la Euskal Selekzioa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111081653/https://www.eitb.eus/es/deportes/futbol/detalle/7626042/convocatoria-partido-seleccion-vasca-euskal-selekzioa-costa-rica/ |date=11 November 2020 }} [Javier Clemente announces the call for the Basque Selection], EITB {{in lang|es}}, 11 November 2020 the Basque team won the match 2–1.[https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2020/11/16/5fb2e67922601db7178b45c9.html Euskadi gana a Costa Rica en el descuento] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120203629/https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2020/11/16/5fb2e67922601db7178b45c9.html |date=20 January 2021 }} [Basques beat Costa Rica in stoppage time], Marca (Spain) {{in lang|es}}, 16 November 2020 With the pandemic still ongoing in late 2021 (earlier causing the Euro fixtures to be moved from Bilbao to Seville), the Basque federation confirmed there would be no festive match that year, but an attempt would be made to arrange one for March 2022.[https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/athletic-bilbao/20211215/1001725973/seleccion-euskadi-queda-partido-navideno.html La selección de Euskadi se queda sin partido navideño] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216192314/https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/athletic-bilbao/20211215/1001725973/seleccion-euskadi-queda-partido-navideno.html |date=16 December 2021 }} [The Basque Country team will still be without its Christmas game], Mundo Deportivo {{in lang|es}}, 15 December 2021 Eventually the next match took place in March 2024, a draw against Uruguay.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/rocambolesco-empate-entre-euskadi-y-uruguay-n/|title=Djaló conquista San Mamés y Bielsa la lía|trans-title=Djaló conquers San Mamés and Bielsa the mess|publisher=Diario AS|language=es|date=23 March 2024|access-date=8 April 2024|archive-date=8 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408033019/https://as.com/futbol/rocambolesco-empate-entre-euskadi-y-uruguay-n/|url-status=live}}

Several organisations including the Basque Government{{cite web|title=Maragall e Ibarretxe reclaman selecciones oficiales para Cataluña y Euskadi|trans-title=Maragall and Ibarretxe claim official selections for Catalonia and Euskadi|url=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/160313/0/selecciones/vasca/catalana/|language=es|website=20 Minutos.es|date=9 October 2006|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505221550/http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/160313/0/selecciones/vasca/catalana/|url-status=live}} and the Basque Football Federation are trying to persuade FIFA and UEFA to accept the Basque Country as an affiliated member.{{cite web|title=Catalonia and Basque Country reignite call for independent national football identities|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/10541466/Catalonia-and-Basque-Country-reignite-call-for-independent-national-football-identities.html|work=The Telegraph|date=30 December 2013|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-date=12 January 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112080144/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/spain/10541466/Catalonia-and-Basque-Country-reignite-call-for-independent-national-football-identities.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Los jugadores vascos reclaman la oficialidad de la selección de Euskadi|trans-title=Basque players demand the officiality of the Euskadi team|url=http://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/cataluna-euskadi-amistoso-160229/0/|language=es|work=20-minutos|date=7 October 2006|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=5 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105153347/http://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/cataluna-euskadi-amistoso-160229/0/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Euskadi juega en Venezuela y pide la oficialidad de su selección|trans-title=Euskadi plays in Venezuela and asks for the officiality of its national team|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2007/06/22/deportes/1182463208_850215.html|language=es|work=El País|date=22 June 2007|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025230/http://elpais.com/diario/2007/06/22/deportes/1182463208_850215.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Urkullu reclama una selección oficial que pueda ser anfitriona en la Euro 2020|trans-title=Urkullu demands an official selection that can host Euro 2020|url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/mundial/2014-01-28/urkullu-reclama-una-seleccion-vasca-oficial-que-pueda-ser-anfitriona-en-la-euro-2020_81814/|language=es|work=El Confidencial|date=28 January 2014|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=30 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530124433/http://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/mundial/2014-01-28/urkullu-reclama-una-seleccion-vasca-oficial-que-pueda-ser-anfitriona-en-la-euro-2020_81814/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Basque Country: The Spain internationals playing for a different team |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45834955 |author=Matt Davis |work=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2018 |access-date=15 October 2018 |archive-date=14 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014034844/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/45834955 |url-status=live }} There is a lot of support for this within the Basque Country, with recent polls showing up to 63,5% of basques support the idea (including the French Basque Country and Navarre).{{cite web|title=Naziometroa: euskal herritarrak Euskal Selekzioari buruz|trans-title=Naziometroa: basques' opinion on the Basque national football team|url=https://guerebai.eus/naziometroa/|language=eu|work=guerebai.eus|date=2021|access-date=15 December 2022|archive-date=29 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529042848/https://guerebai.eus/naziometroa/|url-status=live}}

The United Kingdom provides one model for a sovereign state with more than one FIFA member, while the Faroe Islands is an example of an autonomous constituent country having a separate football team to the national team (Denmark).

In late 2018, the Basque Football Federation voted in favour of applying to FIFA and UEFA for official recognition for the team.{{cite web|title=La Federación Vasca aprueba pedir a UEFA y FIFA su oficialidad|trans-title=The Basque Federation approves asking UEFA and FIFA for their officiality|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-federacion-vasca-aprueba-pedir-uefa-y-fifa-oficialidad-201812131029_noticia.html|language=es|work=ABC|date=13 December 2018|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161700/https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-federacion-vasca-aprueba-pedir-uefa-y-fifa-oficialidad-201812131029_noticia.html|url-status=live}}

In December 2020, Basque federation applied for UEFA and FIFA recognition.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-fifa-basquecountry-idINKBN28Q0G7 |title=Basque federation applies for UEFA, FIFA recognition |work=Reuters |date=15 December 2020 |access-date=6 September 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906202927/https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-fifa-basquecountry-idINKBN28Q0G7 |url-status=live }}

• For a list of recent Basque Country national team players, see here
• For a list of players from the Basque region who have represented FIFA national teams, see here

Due to the unofficial status of the Basque Country team and others, many of the usual conventions of international football do not apply. Players who have already appeared for a FIFA national team can play for the Basques in addition, but if they are simultaneously called up for both, the FIFA squad (usually Spain) takes precedence. Clubs are also not obligated to release their players, and the request is sometimes refused by clubs outside the Spanish leagues, or when the fixture takes place during the domestic season and the club has important upcoming fixtures.{{cite news|title=Spanish clubs refuse to release players for Catalonia-Venezuela friendly|url=https://www.thelocal.es/20190321/spanish-clubs-refuse-to-release-players-for-catalonia-venezuela-friendly/amp|work=The Local|date=21 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161701/https://www.thelocal.es/20190321/spanish-clubs-refuse-to-release-players-for-catalonia-venezuela-friendly/amp|url-status=live}} Eligible players can also choose not to be involved. This means the Basque squads are frequently below what would be considered their 'full strength', but also means those who do take part are fully committed to the concept, and in many cases would have no other opportunities to experience international football so consider the match to be an important matter. This contrasts with their opponents, as the fixture does not contribute to their Association ranking points or individual cap totals and is thus one of the least significant matches out of several they would play each year. In combination with home advantage for the Basque team in most of their fixtures, this has led to the results falling in their favour more often than might be expected compared to other nations perceived to have a similar standard of players.

Veteran coach Javier Clemente became manager of the Basque Selection in March 2019.{{cite web|title=Clemente, nuevo seleccionador de la Euskal Selekzioa|trans-title=Clemente, new coach of the Euskal Selekzioa|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-sociedad/20190305/46869830817/javier-clemente-sera-el-nuevo-seleccionador-vasco.html?facet=amp|language=es|work=Mundo Deportivo|date=6 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161708/https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/real-sociedad/20190305/46869830817/javier-clemente-sera-el-nuevo-seleccionador-vasco.html?facet=amp|url-status=live}} At his presentation, he spoke of plans to invite players with Basque heritage (including those from other parts of Spain like Marco Asensio) to play for the team, in line with the grandfather rule used by FIFA national teams.{{cite web|title=Clemente propondrá que en la Selección Vasca jueguen descendientes de vascos que emigraron a Sudamérica|trans-title=Clemente will propose that the Basque National Team play descendants of Basques who emigrated to South America|url=https://m.deia.eus/2019/03/07/deportes/futbol/javier-clemente-posiblemente-euskadi-sea-mi-ultimo-equipo.amp|language=es|work=Deia|date=7 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327183911/https://m.deia.eus/2019/03/07/deportes/futbol/javier-clemente-posiblemente-euskadi-sea-mi-ultimo-equipo.amp|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Clemente is the Euskal Selekzioa's new coach and is in favor of including players from the Diaspora (listen to his interview)|url=http://www.euskalkultura.com/english/news/clemente-is-the-euskal-selekzioas-new-coach-and-is-in-favor-of-including-players-from-the-diaspora-listen-to-his-interview|website=Euskal Kultura|date=8 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161701/http://www.euskalkultura.com/english/news/clemente-is-the-euskal-selekzioas-new-coach-and-is-in-favor-of-including-players-from-the-diaspora-listen-to-his-interview|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Javier Clemente medita convocar a Marco Asensio con Euskadi|trans-title=Javier Clemente meditates to summon Marco Asensio with Euskadi|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-javier-clemente-medita-convocar-marco-asensio-euskadi-201903071802_noticia_amp.html|language=es|work=ABC|date=8 March 2019|access-date=27 March 2019}}

Squad for the friendly against Uruguay on 23 March 2024.{{cite web | url=https://euskadifutbol.eus/jagoba-arrasate-da-a-conocer-la-lista-de-convocados/ | title=JAGOBA ARRASATE DA a CONOCER LA LISTA DE CONVOCADOS – Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea | Federación Vasca de Fútbol | access-date=22 March 2024 | archive-date=22 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322155350/https://euskadifutbol.eus/jagoba-arrasate-da-a-conocer-la-lista-de-convocados/ | url-status=dead }}

Caps and goals as of 23 March 2024 after the match against Uruguay{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02XCwwcaea3abVRSStQYYM9M2PACpsUN4SKckpFa98oaDMzhd3LgkZ9Tu418WyP3Khl&id=100038066636649 |title=Oltre 35000 spettatori a Bilbao per la sfida fra la selezione basca e l'Uruguay di Bielsa |date=23 March 2024 |website=Facebbok |language=it |trans-title=More than 35.000 viewers in Bilbao for the match between Euskadi and Bielsa's Uruguay |access-date=24 March 2024 |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324115956/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02XCwwcaea3abVRSStQYYM9M2PACpsUN4SKckpFa98oaDMzhd3LgkZ9Tu418WyP3Khl&id=100038066636649 |url-status=live }}

Head coach: Jagoba Arrasate

{{national football squad start (goals)}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=Aitor Fernández|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1991|5|3}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Osasuna|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=GK|name=Julen Agirrezabala|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2000|12|26}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=Andoni Gorosabel|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|8|4}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Deportivo Alavés|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3|pos=DF|name=Martín Aguirregabiria|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|5|10}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Famalicão|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name=Urko González de Zarate|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2001|3|20}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=DF|name=Aritz Elustondo|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|3|28}}|caps=3|goals=1|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=DF|name=Imanol García de Albéniz|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2000|6|8}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=DF|name=Jon Pacheco|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2001|1|9}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=MF|name=Mikel Vesga|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|4|8}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=MF|name=Dani García|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|5|24}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=Olympiacos|clubnat=GRE}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=MF|name=Jon Moncayola|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|5|13}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Osasuna|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=MF|name=Jon Ander Olasagasti|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2000|8|16}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=MF|name=Oier Zarraga|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|1|4}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Udinese|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=MF|name=Ander Guevara|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|7|7}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Deportivo Alavés|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=FW|name=Álvaro Djaló|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|8|16}}|caps=1|goals=1|club=Braga|clubnat=POR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=FW|name=Iván Martín|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|2|14}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Girona|clubnat=SPA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=9|pos=FW|name=Malcom Adu Ares|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2001|10|12}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=FW|name=Roberto Torres|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1989|3|7}}|caps=5|goals=1|club=Unattached'|clubnat=}}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=FW|name=Álex Sola|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|6|9}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Deportivo Alavés|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=FW|name=Asier Villalibre|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|9|30}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country}}

{{national football squad end}}

The following players were called up to or played for the Basque Country in recent matches and are still eligible to represent.{{cite web|title=Las bajas de Zubeldia, Zaldua y Dani García dejan la convocatoria de Clemente en 19 jugadores|trans-title=The losses of Zubeldia, Zaldua and Dani García leave the call-up for Clemente at 19 players|url=https://www.naiz.eus/eu/actualidad/noticia/20201114/las-bajas-de-zubeldia-zaldua-y-dani-garcia-dejan-la-convocatoria-de-clemente-en-19-jugadores|language=es|work=Naiz|date=14 November 2020|access-date=14 November 2020 }}

{{nat fs r start}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=Iago Herrerín|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|1|25}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Sestao River|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=Aritz Castro|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|5|20}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Club San Ignacio|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=GK|name=Jokin Ezkieta|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|8|17}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Racing Santander|clubnat=SPA|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Unai García|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|2|3}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Osasuna|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|URU}}, 23 March 2024 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Yuri Berchiche|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|2|10}}|caps=6|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Ander Capa|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|2|8}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=free agent|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Anaitz Arbilla|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1987|5|15}}|caps=2|goals=1|club=Eibar|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Aihen Muñoz|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|8|16}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Yeray Álvarez|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|1|24}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Unai Núñez|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|1|30}}|caps=1|goals=1|club=Celta Vigo|clubnat=SPA|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=DF|name=Joseba Zaldua|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|6|24}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Cádiz|clubnat=SPA|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=DF|name=Iñigo Martínez|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1991|5|17}}|caps=8|goals=0|club=Barcelona|clubnat=SPA|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=DF|name=Dani Vivian|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|7|5}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=DF|name=Jesús Areso|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|7|2}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Osasuna|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=DF|name=Unai Bustinza|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|2|2}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Amorebieta|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Jon Morcillo|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|9|15}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Amorebieta|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=MF|name=Igor Zubeldia|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|3|30}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Real Sociedad|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020 ^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=MF|name=Asier Illarramendi|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|3|8}}|caps=4|goals=1|club=FC Dallas|clubnat=USA|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=MF|name=Gaizka Larrazabal|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|12|17}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Casa Pia|clubnat=POR|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs r player|no= |pos=MF|name=Iñigo Vicente|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|1|6}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Racing de Santander|clubnat=SPA|latest=v. {{fb|PAN}}, 29 May 2019}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Iker Muniain|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|12|19}}|caps=4|goals=2|club=San Lorenzo de Almagro|clubnat=Argentina|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Jon Bautista|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|7|3}}|caps=2|goals=1|club=Eibar|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Iñaki Williams|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|6|15}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Athletic Bilbao|clubnat=Basque Country|latest=v. {{fb|CRC}}, 16 November 2020}}

{{National football squad end}}

{{main|Basque Country national football team results}}

• Latest results:

{{Football box collapsible

| date = 16 November 2020

| time = 20:45

| team1 = {{fb-rt|Basque Country}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-internacional/2020/11/16/5fb2e67922601db7178b45c9.html Report]

| team2 = {{fb|Costa Rica}}

| goals1 = Muniain {{goal|12}}
Núñez {{goal|90+3}}

| goals2 = Moya {{goal|70}}

| stadium = Ipurua

| location = Eibar

| attendance =

| referee = De Burgos Bengoetxea

| result = W

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| date = 23 March 2024

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|Basque Country}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fb|Uruguay}}

| report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/23/world/non-fifa-friendlies/world-basque-country/uruguay/4330610/

| goals1 =*Djaló {{goal|44}}

| goals2 =*Vecino {{goal|46}}

| stadium = San Mamés Stadium

| location = Bilbao

| attendance =

| referee =

| result = D

}}

• Including 1922 South America tour

{{updated|23 March 2024}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{notelist}}

• Amadeo García, 1930–1931
• Pedro Vallana, 1937–1938
• Koldo Aguirre, 1978
• Jesús Garay and Andoni Elizondo, 1979
• José Antonio Irulegui, 1980
• José Ángel Iribar and Xabier Expósito, 1988
• Jesús Aranguren, 1990
• José Ángel Iribar and Xabier Expósito, 1993–2001
• José Ángel Iribar, 2002
• José Ángel Iribar and Mikel Etxarri, 2003–2011
• Javier Irureta and Mikel Etxarri, 2011
• José María Amorrortu and Mikel Etxarri, 2011–2018
• Javier Clemente, 2019–2020
• Jagoba Arrasate, 2024–

{{Infobox national football team

| Name = Basque Country amateur team

| Badge =

| Badge_size = 100px

| foundation = 1999

| Association = Basque Football Federation (EFF/FVF)

| Coach =

| Captain =

| Most caps =

| Top scorer =

| pattern_b1 = _fortaleza99a|

pattern_ra1 = _sifj17h|

pattern_la1 = _sifj17h|

pattern_sh1 = _redstripes|

rightarm1 = 008000|

body1 = 218c21|

leftarm1 = 008000|

shorts1 = FFFFFF|

socks1 = FF0000

| First game =

| Largest win =

| Largest loss =

| Regional name = UEFA Regions' Cup

| Regional cup apps = 2

| Regional cup best = Winners: 2005

| 2ndRegional name = Spanish stage of the UEFA Regions' Cup

| 2ndRegional cup apps = 10

| 2ndRegional cup first = 1999–2000

| 2ndRegional cup best = Winners: 2003–04 and 2005–06

}}

The Basque Country amateur team is composed of players from the Tercera División (Group 4) and provincial lower divisions, with eligibility criteria being club (must play for a club in the territory), age (must be between 18 and 35) and amateur status (must never have signed a contract as a professional).{{cite web|url=http://contrameta.com/ix-copa-de-las-regiones-de-la-uefa/|work=Contrameta|language=es|title=IX Copa de las Regiones de la UEFA|trans-title=9th UEFA Regions' Cup|date=2 December 2013|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305103504/http://contrameta.com/ix-copa-de-las-regiones-de-la-uefa/|url-status=dead}} At this level, the Basque team only represents the Basque Country (autonomous community), with the Navarre region having their own team along with the other autonomous communities of Spain.

The team plays in the biennial UEFA Regions' Cup; they won the overall pan-European tournament in 2005, having won the preceding Spanish qualifying tournament in 2003–04. Alain Arroyo scored the winning goal in the 2005 final, held in Poland.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528063328/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/regionscup/news/kind=4/newsid=434319.html|archive-date=28 May 2008|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/regionscup/news/kind=4/newsid=434319.html|title=2005: Arroyo sparks Basque celebrations|publisher=UEFA|date=1 July 2006|access-date=17 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/RegionsCup/313509_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Regions Cup 2005 Official Programme|publisher=UEFA|access-date=21 May 2019}} The Basques retained the Spanish stage title in 2005–06 (hosting the semi-finals and final), but did not progress from their intermediate group in the subsequent 2007 UEFA Regions' Cup.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528063333/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/regionscup/news/kind=4/newsid=556998.html|archive-date=28 May 2008|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/regionscup/news/kind=4/newsid=556998.html|title=2007: Dolnoslaski boost Polish pride|publisher=UEFA|date=26 June 2007|access-date=17 May 2019}} Since then, their results have been less successful.

Basque Country score listed first in all matches.

{{notelist|2}}

{{as of|December 2023}}

{{as of|December 2023}}

Prince of Asturias Cup:

• Champions (1): 1915{{efn|As part of the North team.}}
• Runners-up (1): 1918

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

• Basque Country women's national football team
• C.D. Euzkadi
• Navarre autonomous football team
• List of Basque footballers
• {{ill|Tour of USSR in 1937|ru|Турне сборной Басконии по СССР 1937 года|vertical-align=sup}} (In Russian)

{{reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Basque Country association football team}}

• [https://euskadifutbol.eus/inicio/ Official website] {{in lang|eu|es}}

{{Basque national teams}}

{{International football}}

{{Non-FIFA teams}}

{{Spanish autonomous community football teams}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basque Country national football team}}

Category:Spanish autonomous football teams

Category:European national and official selection-teams not affiliated to FIFA

Football

Category:Sports organizations established in 1930

Category:1930 establishments in Spain