Bosnia and Herzegovina travel to North America for the FIFA World Cup this summer looking to write a new chapter in the nation’s short but dramatic international history.
Sergej Barbarez’s side will be contesting the men’s World Cup for just the second time, twelve years on from their debut in the 2014 World Cup.
Their route to this tournament was nothing short of extraordinary — finishing second in UEFA Group H before beating Wales 4-2 on penalties in the play-off semi-final and then defeating Italy 4-1 on penalties in the play-off final on 31 March 2026, claiming the final European berth.
Barbarez and his squad were beaten only once during the qualification campaign, and the dramatic nature of their play-off victories will live long in the memory.
Captain and all-time record scorer Edin Džeko, now 40 and playing for Schalke 04, chipped in with six goals across the qualifying campaign, including a crucial late equaliser against Wales in the semi-final.
Eindhoven winger Esmir Bajraktarević scored the decisive penalty in the play-off final against Italy, announcing himself as one of the tournament’s brightest emerging talents.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have been drawn in Group B at the tournament, where co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar await in opposition.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Friday, June 12th – Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- Wednesday, June 18th – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Switzerland – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
- Tuesday, June 24th – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar – Lumen Field, Seattle, USA
What time do Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup games kick-off?
All kick-off times are BST.
- Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 8pm
- Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Switzerland, 8pm
- Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar, 8pm
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Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens)
Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04)
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