Bosnia and Herzegovina

Group BFIFA #61Advanced as best third — Group B
0% to win the World Cup
· 0% to reach the final

About Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina national team

Bosnia and Herzegovina made their one and only World Cup appearance at Brazil 2014, where Edin Dzeko scored against Argentina in a 3-1 defeat and Miralem Pjanic pulled the strings in midfield. They finished bottom of a group containing Argentina, France and Nigeria but showed genuine quality in flashes. The 2026 tournament represents only their second-ever World Cup, making qualification itself a historic achievement for a nation that only gained FIFA membership in 1996.

Road to the final

Bosnia and Herzegovina's road to the final

In the Round of 320% to reach the final0% to win it all
Next up · Round of 32
USAconfirmed
Round of 16
Belgium
61%
Quarter-finals
Spain
57%
Semi-finals
France
49%
See the full path →

Players to watch

How they play

Barbarez deploys a 4-2-3-1 in which Demirovic leads the line with Dzeko dropping into the number ten channel. A double pivot — likely Amir Hadziahmetovic and Ivan Sunjic — shields the back four and recycles possession. Kolasinac pushes high on the left, providing width, while Esmir Bajraktarevic and Kerim Alajbegovic offer energy and direct running from wider midfield positions. Transitions from defence to attack are rapid.

Players to watch

Watch Ermedin Demirovic first — the VfB Stuttgart striker finished as one of the Bundesliga's most clinical forwards in recent seasons, combining intelligent movement with a genuine eye for goal. Behind him, Edin Dzeko at Schalke 04 remains Bosnia's totemic figure, a generational centre-forward whose hold-up play and link work are irreplaceable even in his late career. Left-back Sead Kolasinac at Atalanta brings relentless physicality and overlapping threat down the flank.

Strengths

Demirovic's Bundesliga-proven finishing gives Bosnia a genuinely dangerous focal point, while Dzeko's experience and hold-up ability create space for runners. Kolasinac's physicality and delivery from left-back adds a consistent attacking outlet that opponents must account for defensively.

Weaknesses

The squad's depth beyond the first-choice XI is thin — most outfield players are competing in mid-table clubs in secondary European leagues. The midfield pivot of Hadziahmetovic and Sunjic can be bypassed by quick, technical opposition, and Bosnia have historically struggled to control games when forced to chase a deficit.

The lines

Attack

Demirovic leads the line with pace and clinical finishing honed in the Bundesliga, while Dzeko operates as a deep-lying focal point whose chest control and layoffs remain elite. Haris Tabakovic at Borussia Mönchengladbach offers a physical alternative off the bench.

Midfield

Hadziahmetovic and Sunjic form a functional double pivot — one defensive, one progressive — with Bajraktarevic of PSV Eindhoven providing the most technically refined option in the advanced midfield role. Kerim Alajbegovic from RB Salzburg adds pressing intensity and vertical running.

Defence

Amar Dedic at Benfica is the most pedigreed defender in the squad and anchors the right side. Kolasinac dominates the left. Tarik Muharemovic at Sassuolo and Dennis Hadzikadunic at Sampdoria compete for central berths, though neither plays at elite club level, leaving questions about the unit's resilience against top-tier forwards.

Goalkeeper

Nikola Vasilj of St Pauli is the clear first choice, having been a consistent performer in the Bundesliga with the Hamburg club. His shot-stopping is reliable and he handles crosses confidently, though he has limited experience at major international tournaments.

Squad

Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Sergej BarbarezManager: Sergej BarbarezView profile →

Fixtures & results

Canada11Bosnia and Herzegovina
FT
Group B · 2026-06-12 · Toronto
Switzerland41Bosnia and Herzegovina
FT
Group B · 2026-06-18 · Los Angeles
Bosnia and Herzegovina31Qatar
FT
Group B · 2026-06-24 · Seattle
USAvsBosnia and Herzegovina
from $1638
Round of 32 · 2026-07-01 · San Francisco Bay Area

Frequently asked questions

What are Bosnia and Herzegovina's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?

Bosnia and Herzegovina have a 0% chance to win the World Cup and 0% to reach the final, per our simulation.

What group is Bosnia and Herzegovina in at the 2026 World Cup?

Bosnia and Herzegovina are in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Who is Bosnia and Herzegovina's manager?

Bosnia and Herzegovina are managed by Sergej Barbarez.

Who are Bosnia and Herzegovina's players to watch?

Key players to watch for Bosnia and Herzegovina include Edin Dzeko, Sead Kolasinac, Ermedin Demirovic.

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