Sancet pushes Basque official status while dreaming of a World Cup

Oihan Sancet, midfielder of Athletic, has used his first call‑up with the Basque Selection to demand official recognition for the Basque Country and has said that his biggest dream is that someday the Basque team can fight for a World Cup, even though the team still lacks international recognition.

Sancet's Appeal and International Career

Sancet, whose full name is Oihan Sancet Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, has publicly advocated for official status for the Basque team and has expressed his desire to compete in a World Cup representing the Basque side. The Athletic midfielder, who played four matches with the Spanish national team between 2023 and 2024, used his first call‑up with the Basque Selection to defend equal conditions with other national teams.

He made these statements during the Basque camp for the friendly next Saturday against Venezuela at San Mamés. In the talk he affirmed that he has dreamed since childhood of playing for the team he loves.

Sancet made his senior debut on 12 October 2023, replacing Mikel Merino in the 67th minute and scoring Spain’s second goal in the 2‑0 victory over Scotland. After the match he said that receiving the call from Luis de la Fuente had been a dream and he was very happy with the debut and the three points. He admitted that he did not expect to move from the under‑21s to the senior side and, in total, played four matches for Spain between 2023 and 2024.

His last call‑up with the Spanish national team came in March 2024 for the friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. In his first Basque camp, Sancet stated that the main goal is to achieve official status gradually, despite the difficulty, and that every player must do his part. He concluded by reiterating his wish: “Hopefully, tomorrow we can fight for a World Cup with the team of our country.”

The Basque manager, Jagoba Arrasate, backed his players’ aspirations and noted that the match against Venezuela should serve to give visibility to the push for official status. Arrasate highlighted the players’ motivation after the first training session in Lezama, saying he saw a sparkle in their eyes and a desire to do well. He considered that facing Venezuela, accustomed to measuring itself against powers such as Argentina and Brazil, is an opportunity to showcase the sporting level of the Basque Country.

Sancet made clear that his biggest wish is for the Basque team to stop limiting its activity to friendly matches and be able to compete someday in a World Cup.

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Call‑up and Line‑up for the Friendly

In his first appearance as a call‑up for the Basque Selection, Oihan Sancet asked for a World Cup for the Basque Country. The Athletic attacking midfielder appeared in the squad that will face Venezuela on Saturday at San Mamés, after the withdrawals of Dani Vivian and Hugo Rincón.

Sancet sat in front of the microphones of the Basque Football Federation as a player of the Basque Selection. Born in Pamplona, he is among the 22 footballers named by Jagoba Arrasate on 6 November, the same week he lost only to Aitor Fernández at El Sadar against Osasuna coached by the manager himself.

The goalkeeper who beat him in that duel is now among the absentees from the list. The call‑up comes as Arrasate is directing his third match at the helm of the Basque side.

The coach included Sancet in the attacking block alongside Kike Barja, Iñigo Vicente, Asier Villalibre, Unai Gómez and Gaizka Larrazabal. Of the five Athletic players initially called up, after the withdrawals of Vivian and Rincón three remain, and Sancet will share the dressing room with Mikel Jauregizar and the French full‑back Johaneko Louis‑Jean, also a debutant.

The absences also allowed the inclusion of Gorosabel, Marrero and Beñat Prados. During the appearance, Sancet repeated the phrase: “Hopefully tomorrow we can play a World Cup with the team of our country.”

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Official Obstacle and Future of the Team

Sancet’s wish faces an administrative hurdle, as the Basque Selection lacks international official status and only plays friendlies, which rules out the possibility of a World Cup until recognition is obtained. The Basque Federation has reactivated the procedures to achieve official status in recent days.

The match will be played on Saturday 14 November at 20:00 at San Mamés, as part of the events marking the 90th anniversary of the first Basque Government. The Federation has already put the last 6,000 tickets on sale, a year less a day after having filled the stadium against Palestine.

If Arrasate gives him minutes, Sancet will play on his own ground in the first match wearing the green shirt. However, the answer to his wish to take part in a World Cup does not depend on Saturday or San Mamés, but on the decision that will be made in the offices where the Federation has reopened the file on official status.