Athletic Bilbao shirt: understand the map controversy in the new uniform

The launch of Athletic Bilbao's new shirt for the 2026-27 season generated reactions in the world of football and Spanish society.

The uniform features on the back, near the back of the neck, a map of Euskal Herria, a region that includes the Basque Country - where the club is based - and also the autonomous region of Navarra.

Right-wing parties in Spain such as the Partido Popular (PP), Unión Popular Navarra (UPN) and Vox took a stance against the presence of the map on Athletic's shirt.

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UPN even threatened to go to court and take legal action against the Bilbao club.

"This representation is especially harmful to Navarre, as it ignores or minimizes its peculiar political, legal and institutional reality [...] I demand immediate measures, as this constitutes a serious offense to the majority of Navarrese society", says part of the UPN note.

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Why does the Euskal Herria flag cause so much controversy?
The Euskal Herria map considers not only the borders of Euskadi, the Basque autonomous community that is officially recognized in Spain, but also the regions of Navarre and the Basque Country located in French territory.

However, despite criticism from right-wing parties, the Navarra government itself said it saw no problem with the use of the symbol on Athletic's uniform.

"In the case of the aforementioned Athletic Bilbao t-shirt, the official symbols of Navarra are not compromised or misused", declared Javier Remírez, first vice-president and advisor to the Presidency and Equality of the Government of Navarra.

"Furthermore, we are talking about an entity legally classified as a private association, that is, it is neither a public administration nor an entity dependent on a public institution."

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What is the difference between the Basque Country, Euskadi and Euskal Herria?
Euskadi is the nomenclature in Euskera (Basque language) to refer to the Basque Country, which is made up of three provinces: Álava, Biscay and Guipuzkoa.

The Euskal Herria definition refers to a broader region in which Basque culture and Euskera developed. In Castilian, the name can be translated as "Basque Nation" or "Land of the Basque speakers".

The area delimited by the map on the Athletic Bilbao shirt comprises seven historical territories, four in Spain (Álava, Biscay, Guipuzcoa and Navarra) and three in France (Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea and Zuberoa). Euskal Herria, however, is not officially recognized by Spanish authorities.

And why does Athletic use the Euskal Herria map on its shirt?
The action is part of yet another movement by the club that reinforces its identity as a representative of Basque values and culture.

One of the most traditional teams in Spain, Athletic Bilbao is known, among other things, for only incorporating into its squad players who were born or trained in the Basque Country.

The team should use the new shirt in the clash with Real Madrid, this Saturday (23), in LaLiga, at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Source: CNN