Athletic Club Foundation presents Euskal Non-League Day 2026

Athletic Club, through its Foundation, has announced its plans for Euskal Non-League Day 2026. The annual celebration of grassroots football will be held on the weekend of March 28 and 29, taking advantage of the international break.

The presentation of this fourth edition was held at Lezama Training Centre and led by Johana Ruiz Olabuenaga, Athletic's communities director. It also featured contributions from Athletic Club Women stars Nerea Nevado and Ane Elexpuru, academy director and former first-team player Eneko Boveda, as well as representatives from partner clubs CD Santurtzi KE and Loiola Indautxu.

Where it all begins

This year the presentation event was held for the first time in Lezama, the heart of Athletic's youth academy, which constantly replenishes its ranks with players from partner clubs and grassroots football.

Non-League Day is way of highlighting the importance of community football because, although it eventually leads to the heart of Lezama, it always starts at modest clubs in villages, neighbourhoods and schools.

Giveaways with exciting prizes 

In order to encourage the Zurigorri family to take part in this annual celebration and visit local grounds on March 28 and 29, Athletic Club has organised various giveaways with valuable and exciting prizes.

Every participating club will receive a batch of raffle tickets to sell. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to each club. 

Each ticket will be entered into two prize draws: an individual local draw to be held at each ground during Euskal Non-League Day, and another general draw between all clubs to be held by Athletic on March 30, once the grassroots football event has concluded.

Local raffle: two San Mames tickets for each club

Each local draw will give away two tickets to a LaLiga match at San Mamés. In other words, if 100 participating clubs sign up, 200 match tickets will be given away in these individual draws.

First prize: travel with the men's first team to an away match

First prize consists of two tickets, travel and accommodation for two people to accompany the men's first team to an away LaLiga match.

The first prize will be raffled among all participating clubs.

Second prize: two tickets to the Players Zone VIP

The second overall prize is a pair of tickets to the Players Zone VIP area for a LaLiga match at San Mames. This package includes VIP seats located next to the team benches and access to the stadium's VIP ring from an hour and a half before kick-off. The second overall prize will be raffled off among all participating clubs.

Third prize: Meet & Greet at Lezama with the Lionesses

Pass for two people to attend a training session with the women's first team and enjoy an exclusive tour of the Lezama facilities. Third overall prize to be raffled off among participating affiliated clubs.

Partner clubs interested in getting involved have until February 16 to sign up for Euskal Non-League Day 2026.

About Non-League Day

Euskal Non-League Day is an initiative inspired by the British Non-League Day movement, which has been promoting attendance at non-professional football matches during international breaks since 2010.

Athletic Club, aware that the values promoted by this community initiative resonate directly with our identity, is the only team in LaLiga that dedicates an entire weekend to highlighting the importance of grassroots football and encouraging attendance at local grounds.

Furthermore, following three successful editions, Athletic Club has established a close relationship with this initiative, which reinforces a sense of belonging among the Athletic family and our connection with academy and non-professional football throughout the Basque Country.

In addition, the club maintains a strong bond with the organisers in the United Kingdom and its founder, James Doe, who has visited the Basque Country on two occasions. A video of James Doe encouraging all participating clubs to take part and highlighting the importance of Euskal-Non League Day was also shown during the presentation.