The 2026 World Cup final, which crowned Spain as champion, was accompanied by a series of incidents in various cities of the Basque Country, where violent leftist independentist groups attacked national symbols and Spanish fans watching the match against Argentina.
One of the episodes occurred in Unzaga square, in Eibar, where the City Council had set up a giant screen to follow the match. In that context, a group of hooded individuals burned a Spanish flag and displayed banners supporting the Basque team, along with slogans against Spanish nationalism.
Tensions began even before the match started. In the vicinity of the public space, graffiti appeared with messages like “Puta España” and “Espainolismoa borrokatu” (Fight against Spanish nationalism).
A banner was also placed with the slogans “Inposiziorik ez” (No to impositions) and “Gazte langileok espainolismoari aurre egin” (Young workers, confront Spanish nationalism), accompanied by a crossed-out coat of arms of Spain.
With the match underway, around half a dozen hooded individuals accessed a nearby viewpoint, where they lit flares and set fire to a Spanish flag.
From that point, they also unfurled a banner with the flags of Spain and France crossed out, along with the Zazpiak Bat coat of arms and the message “Gurea Euskal Selekzioa” (Ours, the Basque team).
They burn the Spanish flag
The incidents were not limited to Eibar. In Bilbao, a group of protesters demanding official status for the Basque team attempted to boycott the giant screen set up by the Popular Party to follow the final between Spain and Argentina.
Meanwhile, the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz was also the scene of violent events. About thirty leftist extremists attacked two young fans of the Spanish team who were heading to Plaza de España to watch the match. According to Europa Press, the assailants used pepper spray and beat the victims in the vicinity of the Old Cathedral.
After the attack, the Ertzaintza deployed several patrols in the Alava capital to locate those responsible. In that same context, police sources confirmed the identification of several individuals for their alleged involvement in another assault against a fan wearing the Spanish national team jersey.
