Once the International Federation accepts full membership, the Federation of the Basque Country faces the dictionaries of 2026 and 2030. It is possible, for the first time in its history, for the Basque team to participate in the World Ball Championship to be held in Argentina in 2026, as well as in the championship to be held in 2030 in Bilbao and Gernika-Lumo. At first, only the pelotaris of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa would form the Basque selection.

"This historic achievement opens up the possibility of Basque football teams officially competing in the championships organized by the International Football Federation," notes the Basque Federation note. However, the president of the federation, Gotzon Enbil, has assured that the news has been received "with joy but cautiously", as some federation plans to resort to the decision, according to EITB.

Enbil: "From the moment the International Federation has recognized us, we understand that we have that permission to become an officer."

The Basque Football Federation is now looking at the Spanish Higher Sports Council, as it is not clear whether or not it will give the permission. In Enbil’s view, the Council has no arguments to revoke its decision: "From the moment the International Football Federation has accepted us, we understand that we already have the permission to become an officer." However, he has warned EITB that it will still be necessary to "fight" because it will have to be seen if there are allegations and in what direction they occur, "perhaps because they can come with something that we have not foreseen".

"The Federation already had several teams to date [in live ball sports], but now we will be able to participate in all modalities and in all the world championships. We are going to play as Euskal Selekzioa against Spain, France or Mexico, for example," added the president of the Basque Federation.

Anger of the Spanish Federation

Citing the allegations, the Spanish Federation is particularly reminded. It is precisely, as the newspaper Berria has been aware, that the representative of Spain, Julián García Angulo, has not even agreed to the meeting, since he has in fact completed his term of office and no elections have been held. His nephew, Iñaut Matauko Rada, has explained to Efe that he has also tried to enter the plenary to take part in the vote, but that he has not even been handed over. Cuba, for its part, has not been able to vote either, as it has outstanding debts with the International Football Federation (FIFA). The representatives of Spain and Cuba were expected to vote no, and since they were unable to participate, the proposal has been put forward. Only Chile voted against the proposal, while Costa Rica abstained and the rest voted in favour of it.

Julián García Angulo described what happened in the message hanging on his social networks as "unfair" and added that the issue "will be taken to the end". "The Spanish Sports Council cannot accept this injustice. It is clear that they wanted to put obstacles in the way of countries that protect us [Spain] from participating in the meeting," says Angulo in an interview published by the ABC newspaper. In similar terms, UPN has been said to have described the decision of the House of Commons as "unfair". Also the PP. The general secretary of the Basque pp, Esther Martínez, has stated that "the last trap of PNV and Pedro Sánchez damages the Basque ball". And he adds the phrase that is usually used to belittle non-taste activities: "Politics is not sport."

Imanol Pradales: "It's great news."

"It's great news for the ball, for the Basque sport and also for the Basque sport," CAV President Imanol Pradales wrote on his social networks. "This officiality is one more step in the recognition of our nation. It is an important step towards the international projection of our People and the conquest of new spaces for our language and culture. In fact, the Basque language will be the official language of the international football tournaments. The Basque Government will continue to contribute to the official status of the Basque sports federations".

EH Bai and EH Bildu have also received the news with optimism. "We call on the citizens and the Basque institutions to continue to work on the path of nationality in all areas where the whole of the Basque Country is recognised. The objective is to achieve Basque sports selections that integrate the entire Basque Country", points out the note disseminated by both formations.

The initiative has also "welcomed" the decision of the International Federation. "It's the result of a road," said the group members through an interview in the Basque Country Irratia. "It has been seen that it is possible when athletes, civil society and technical and political decision-makers go in the same direction. This favours sport, the people." The citizens' initiative has underlined that, in the event of the possibility of competing internationally, "the participation of pelotaris from all Basque territories should be guaranteed".