The fact that the Spanish national team recently won the 2026 World Cup confirmed what has long been known in Bilbao: the world’s best footballers are trained and play at the ‘Cathedral’. The decisive role played by Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams in winning the trophy represents the ultimate triumph of the Lezama model. The Athletic Club youth academy is not only capable of keeping a hundred-year-old club in the elite ranks of professional football, but also provides outstanding players for the international stage. The success of these Athletic Club players is a testament to the philosophy of an institution that is unique in the world, bringing pride to football fans in Bizkaia and cementing the club’s prestige in the eyes of the global football community.
Tribute to the international players at the red-and-whites’ home ground
To mark this historic milestone, the board of directors has organised a heartfelt ceremony on the pitch at San Mames. The event will take place on 22 August, in the run-up to the season opener against Sevilla, a match that will mark manager Edin Terzic’s official debut in charge of the Bilbao side. Fans at the ‘Cathedral’ will be able to pay a resounding tribute to the three Athletic Club internationals, and to national team manager Luis de la Fuente, who has been closely linked to Lezama since his days as a player and coach. This celebration will also link the club’s current success with its history, with a minute’s silence to be observed in memory of goalkeeping legend Carmelo Cedrún.
The red-and-whites’ development programme is not limited to the men’s first team. The same event will honour Elene Gurtubay and Ziara Vega, the newly crowned European Under-19 champions. This collective recognition shows that the club’s DNA permeates every level of its sporting structure. Fans can relive the excitement of this milestone through a special video entitled 2026 World Champions on Athletic Club Play, which captures the indelible mark left by the academy players on the tournament.
The ‘Unique in the World’ philosophy as a driving force for global appeal
The World Cup triumph has turned the club’s slogan into an undeniable reality. Proving that it is possible to reach the pinnacle of international football by fielding a team made up exclusively of home-grown players or those trained at the club debunks the myth that tradition is a constraint in modern sport. This ethical model has earned the admiration of the international press and sparked unprecedented interest among fans across the world, who see the club as a bastion of authenticity in the face of commercialised football.
Lezama’s triumph on the world stage
- Unai Simón
:strength, leadership and composure between the posts. - Aymeric Laporte
:physicality, clean ball distribution and defensive authority. - Nico Williams: ability to take on defenders, blistering pace and ability to cause chaos in attack.
This sporting impact has had an immediate effect on demand for season tickets, sales of official kit and interest in attending matches at the ‘Cathedral’. The squad is heading into the start of the season with unshakeable confidence, with the winning experience of its key players raising the bar for the team on a daily basis.
Tradition, leadership and a vision for the future
The leader of this group of players follows in the footsteps of a long line of role models who have worn the armband over the decades. Understanding the scale of this commitment means looking back at the careers of Athletic Club’s captains and their careers at San Mames – a legacy of values that the new world champions now proudly embody.
A tour of the exhibition rooms is a must if you want to gain an in-depth understanding of how memory and sporting success are intricately linked in every corner of the ‘Cathedral’. Fans can book their official tickets on the AC Museum website and learn about the historical context of this philosophy in the feature on Athletic Club as a cultural icon beyond the world of football. It will be an unforgettable trip that will prove that the future of football is still very much alive in Bilbao.
