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How to watch Basque Country vs Venezuela Live Stream, TV Channel & Kick-off Times
Important preseason matches
Before the start of a season or a major tournament, teams play friendly matches to test their players, practice tactics, and regain match fitness. This period is called preseason. It also allows coaches to evaluate new signings and youth players without the pressure of having to win. Something similar happens with national teams: during FIFA international windows, they play friendlies to prepare the team for a qualifying round or a World Cup.
San Mamés
San Mamés is the football stadium of Bilbao, in the Basque Country, and the home of Athletic Club. It is the largest stadium in the region and one of the most beloved in Spanish football. It is known as "The Cathedral," a nickname that originated with the original stadium and was retained when the new one was built.
The name comes from a very particular event. The first stadium was built next to an asylum and a church dedicated to Saint Mamés, a Christian martyr who, according to tradition, was thrown to the lions. This is also the origin of the club's nickname: Athletic players are called "the lions."
There are two stadiums to speak of. The first, the "old San Mamés," began construction with the laying of the foundation stone on January 20, 1913, and opened on August 21 of that same year with a match against Racing de Irún. The first goal was scored by Rafael Moreno, "Pichichi," and that is why the trophy for the top scorer in La Liga bears his nickname. The original design was by the architect Manuel María Smith. It grew in stages: in 1952 it was renovated with the central stand and an arch that became the stadium's symbol, reaching a capacity of around 47,000 seats, although this was later reduced to about 40,000. Sources disagree on its initial capacity, ranging from 3,500 to 7,000, so it's safest to say it was a few thousand. It closed on June 5, 2013, after a century of history.
The new stadium was built practically next door, in two phases, so that Athletic wouldn't have to play away games during the construction. It was inaugurated on September 16, 2013, and was designed by the firm IDOM, with César Azcárate as the architect. It has a capacity of around 53,300 people, all seated (official figures range from 53,289 to 53,331). One of the design ideas was to place the stands very close to the pitch, creating a high-pressure atmosphere for the opposing team. It also features approximately 3,000 hospitality seats, a museum, an official store, restaurants, and even a multi-sports complex beneath one of the stands.
Hello everyone
Hello everyone, welcome to VAVEL.com's live coverage of the international friendly match between Basque Country and Venezuela.
My name is Esteban Monsalve, and I'll be your host for this match. We'll bring you pre-match analysis, score updates, and live news right here on VAVEL.
Here are the official kick-off times, TV channels and live stream options to watch Basque Country vs Venezuela in International Friendly across major English-speaking regions:
For real-time Basque Country vs Venezuela live score updates, confirmed starting lineups, match stats and minute-by-minute commentary, follow VAVEL right here.