Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Bosnia-Herzegovina

every team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What can I expect from Bosnia-Herzegovina?

Having stunned Italy in the play-offs to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014, Bosnia-Herzegovina go into their opening match against co-hosts Canada full of confidence.

This is still a team in transition – head coach Sergej Barbarez says his goal when he took over was to qualify for Euro 2028 – but they play without pressure and can rely on the goals of evergreen captain and record goalscorer, Edin Dzeko.

The 40-year-old scored six goals in qualifying, including a crucial late equaliser against Wales, and usually leads the line in a classic 4-4-2 formation.

If they go behind, as they did against both Wales and Italy in the play-offs, they turn to their quick wide players to get balls into the box. Adaptable and fearless, Bosnia may continue to cause upsets.

What are Bosnia-Herzegovina's strengths?

The team relishes the role of underdog. Nothing will faze them in North America and a team playing without pressure is often dangerous, especially when it has the experience and quality of former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac and Edin Dzeko at either end of the pitch.

And what about their weaknesses?

Although they scored in all ten of their World Cup qualifiers, they also conceded in seven of them. That's not a major concern but for a team that sets up defensively it suggests there is still work to be done. A 7-0 loss to Germany early in Barbarez's tenure lingers in the minds of some fans.

How might Bosnia-Herzegovina line up?

Which players should I look out for?

Esmir Bajraktarevic is an exciting 21-year-old winger who has brought new energy to the squad. Fast, direct and unpredictable, he showed nerves of steel to convert the penalty against Italy that took his country to the World Cup finals. He'll feel right at home in North America too, having been born and raised in Wisconsin.

The scorer of Bosnia's winning penalty against Wales was an even younger prospect, Kerim Alajbegovic, 18. The RB Salzburg forward is already being talked about as the next Bosnian superstar after Schalke's Edin Dzeko, who will lead the line this summer aged 40.

The veteran captain – a two-time Premier League winner with Manchester City – was their top scorer in qualifying with six.

Who is Bosnia-Herzegovina's head coach?

Former Bosnia captain Sergej Barbarez, 54, took over from ex-Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic in April 2024 and had to wait nine matches to record his first win. He and the team haven't looked back since.

How did Bosnia-Herzegovina qualify?

After just missing out on automatic qualification to Austria, they beat Wales and Italy on penalties in the play-offs, coming from behind in both matches.

Where can I watch Bosnia-Herzegovina?

All of Bosnia-Herzegovina's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!

Give me a fact to impress my friends

Although boss Sergej Barbarez acquired his coaching licence after retiring, having won 47 Bosnia-Herzegovina caps, he drifted away from football and found a lucrative career in poker, making the finals of the World Series of Poker on a couple of occasions.

Now give me some proper detail

When they beat Wales in Cardiff on penalties in the European play-offs, head coach Sergej Barbarez knew he had a special team. "It's only by winning games like these that you can be successful," he said. "We have the will to make the nation happy. We know how long we have been in a negative spiral in football, but we can be the ones to break the ice."

Less than a week later, the mighty Italy were vanquished – again on penalties. Bosnia-Herzegovina, unexpectedly, gloriously, had qualified for their second World Cup after their 2014 debut. More than 150,000 people filled the streets of Sarajevo to welcome the team home.

Barbarez started preparing for the World Cup finals as soon as the play-off celebrations ended. "We want to show the talent we have," he said, and his team have the chance to do that when they face co-hosts Canada in a high-profile opening game in Toronto.

Bosnia-Herzegovina collected just two points from their first six competitive matches under Barbarez, all of which were in the Nations League, but took 17 out of 24 in World Cup qualifying afterwards.

Bosnia are the lowest-ranked team in Group B, but will fancy their chances of progressing given their opponents are Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. They have what looks to be a winning mix of youth and experience, guided by 40-year-old captain and record goalscorer Edin Dzeko.

How have Bosnia-Herzegovina done at previous World Cups?

This is only the second time in eight attempts as an independent nation that Bosnia and Herzegovina have qualified for the World Cup.

On their debut in 2014, they lost their first two group games, against Argentina and Nigeria, before a consolation win over Iran.