Bosnia and HerzegovinaGroup B · UEFA · FIFA #65 · Elo 1591
📅 Group B: vs Canada · Qatar · Switzerland
Bosnia and Herzegovina arrive at their second World Cup on the back of a miracle qualification run, eliminating Italy on penalties and led by 40-year-old legend Edin Džeko who scored six qualifying goals including a last-gasp equaliser in the Wales semi-final despite suffering a shoulder injury in the process; they blend battle-hardened veterans with a wave of young Bundesliga and Serie A talents ready to announce themselves on the world stage.
Bosnia and Herzegovina knocked out four-time World Cup champions Italy on penalties in the play-off final to qualify — only their second-ever World Cup appearance, 12 years after their debut in Brazil 2014.
Edin Džeko, born 17 March 1986, is among the oldest outfield players ever to appear at a World Cup; he holds both national records with 73 goals and 148 caps.
Esmir Bajraktarević, the 21-year-old PSV winger who grew up in Wisconsin, scored the decisive penalty past Italy's goalkeeper to seal qualification.
Tarik Muharemović (22) attracted interest from Inter Milan and Tottenham after his breakout 2025-26 season at Sassuolo, making him one of the most sought-after young defenders in Europe.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's replacement goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas was born in 2007 — the same year Edin Džeko made his senior debut — and at 18 is potentially the youngest goalkeeper at the entire 2026 tournament.
Bosnia's World Cup debut in 2014 began in the cruellest way: Sead Kolašinac put the ball into his own net against Argentina after just over two minutes — the fastest own goal in World Cup history.
Long-time Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begović holds the Guinness World Record for the longest goal ever scored — a 91.9-metre clearance for Stoke that bounced over Southampton's keeper just 13 seconds into the match in 2013.
The big number is the player's EA FC 26 (FIFA 26) overall rating; for players not in the game it's estimated from market value & role.
Tip: click any player for full details, or “✨ Get to know Bosnia and Herzegovina” up top for trivia & the anthem. OVR = EA FC 26 (FIFA 26) rating; for players not in the game it's estimated from market value.
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