«The World Cup is another step forward after the experience gathered in the Nations League,» Basque Pelota Federation President Joxe Mari Mitxelena said after the Basque pelota team was officially presented on Thursday in Vitoria’s Plaza de Los Fueros.
The Basque pelota squad is preparing for its official debut at the upcoming World Championship, traveling to Argentina and Uruguay to compete across 13 different disciplines between the 15th and 24th, according to a presentation covered by El Correo. The historic trip follows the team’s official recognition as a full member by the International Federation in late 2024 and its organization of the Nations League events last year in Gernika and Bilbao.
Delegation Size and Official Presentation in Vitoria
The tricolor delegation consists of 41 pelotaris and nine coaches who will represent the Basque Country in the 20th edition of the international tournament. Thursday’s presentation brought together key regional figures at the Plaza de Los Fueros fronton in Vitoria, highlighting the magnitude of the upcoming journey.
Mitxelena acknowledged the extensive efforts behind the scenes to secure official status for the squad. «Behind the pelotaris stands an entire people. It is a great responsibility, but the illusion is greater,» Mitxelena said, adding that while securing gold medals across all 13 categories will prove difficult, the roster has undergone rigorous preparation.
Regional leaders joined the presentation, including Vice Lehendakari and Minister of Culture and Linguistic Policy Ibone Bengoetxea, Basque Parliament President Bakartxo Tejeria, and Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) President Aitor Esteban.
«This is the result of many years of work and yours is the privilege of being the first. The ones who will open the path,» Bengoetxea told the athletes. She reminded the competitors that they will not carry the burden alone on the international stage: «Toda Euskadi will do it with you. Go and compete, but enjoy the moment because this is history and your names will appear forever on that first page.»
Global Competitors Across Argentine and Uruguayan Venues
The tournament runs from the 15th to the 24th across facilities in Argentina and Uruguay. Alongside the host nations, the global competition features teams from Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Chile, Perú, Costa Rica, Cuba, Brazil, the United States, Bolivia, and Venezuela.
The Basque athletes are scheduled to compete on 36-meter and 30-meter frontons in Buenos Aires across individual cesta punta, leather paleta, short pala, adapted pelota, rubber paleta, frontball, and xare. In addition, the squad will contest pairs cesta punta at the recently restored 54-meter court in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay.
Diego Beaskoetxea, head coach of the men's cesta punta division, explained why the discipline matters. «It is our modality so we have to aspire to the maximum,» Beaskoetxea said, identifying Spain, France, and the United States as their primary threats in what he termed the most open World Championship in recent memory.
Women's Squad Aims for Gold Against Spain
In the women’s division, coach Ander Bilbao’s squad aims to challenge Spain, the tournament favorites. «The objective is gold. Although we have it very difficult we are going to present battle,» Bilbao said, noting concerns regarding how the glass rebound walls at the venues will perform during matches.
Hand-pelota director Iraitz Olaetxea expressed similar confidence in his players’ competitive drive. «We want to be competitive and we will go to win. Theory says that in the final we will meet Spain, but we are clear that first we have to do things well,» Olaetxea stated.
Short pala coach Salva Lizardi anticipated tough matchups against Spanish, French, and Argentine opponents. «Until now they always played it among themselves and now we enter the fray,» Lizardi said, outlining podium targets. «In short pala we can opt for gold, while in leather paleta we have to go for bronze at least.»
Olatz Arrizabalaga, set to compete in women’s frontball, described the absence of a left-wall court option for female competitors as a disappointment, pointing to Spain and Mexico as the primary obstacles to the podium.
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