Bosnia and Herzegovina have officially confirmed their final 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking their long-awaited return to the tournament.
Head coach Sergej Barbarez has announced the final list well ahead of most other competing nations, despite Bosnia being one of the last teams to secure qualification.
The squad represents a strong mix of experienced veterans and emerging young talents. Bosnia earned their World Cup spot through the play-offs, defeating Wales in Cardiff on penalties before repeating the feat against Italy, eliminating the four-time champions from a third consecutive World Cup.
As in previous years, the spotlight shines on Edin Dzeko. Now 40 and currently playing for Schalke in Germany, the former Manchester City forward continues to lead Bosnia’s attack.
Despite his age, Dzeko’s performances in the 2. Bundesliga – where earlier this year he became the oldest goalscorer in the league’s history – have cemented his place as a starter. Following the retirement of Miralem Pjanic in December last year, Dzeko remains the last active member of Bosnia’s ‘golden generation’ that featured at the 2014 World Cup.
Barbarez favours a dynamic, physical playing style built on high energy and rapid transitions. Midfielders Benjamin Tahirovic and Armin Gigovic anchor the centre of the pitch, while Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirovic provides tireless support alongside Dzeko, often handling the pressing duties to free the captain inside the box.
Final 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Nidal Celik (Lens)
Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Ivan Basic (Astana), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Kerim Alajbegovic (Red Bull Salzburg), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec)
Forwards: Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04), Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj)
World Cup 2026 Fixtures – Group B
June 12, 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
June 18, 2026: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, United States
June 24, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar, Lumen Field, Seattle, United States
Post-World Cup fixtures
September 25, 2026: Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
September 28, 2026: Romania vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, National Arena, Bucharest, Romania
October 2, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Sweden, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
October 5, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Poland, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
November 14, 2026: Sweden vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
November 17, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Romania, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Recent Results
March 31, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 Italy (4-3 pens), Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
March 26, 2026: Wales 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-4 pens), Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
November 18, 2025: Austria 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, Austria
November 15, 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-1 Romania, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
October 12, 2025: Malta 1-4 Bosnia and Herzegovina, National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta
October 9, 2025: Cyprus 2-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina, AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus
September 9, 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Austria, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
September 6, 2025: San Marino 0-6 Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino
Bosnia and Herzegovina have been drawn in Group B for the 2026 World Cup.
Sergej Barbarez, appointed head coach in April 2024, previously captained the national side and has been credited with revitalising the team after a decade of stagnation. Despite lacking prior top-level managerial experience, he successfully guided Bosnia through their most impressive World Cup qualification campaign in years.
Bosnia finished second in Group H, narrowly missing automatic qualification behind Austria, but booked their World Cup place through the play-offs.
Edin Dzeko’s international journey remains the defining story of Bosnian football in the modern era. Since scoring on his debut against Turkey in June 2007, he has evolved from a promising striker into the country’s most iconic footballer. With 146 caps and 72 goals, he is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most-capped player and all-time top scorer.
Even at 40, the Premier League winner continues to be a potent threat, enjoying a late-career resurgence in the 2. Bundesliga with Schalke. While his pace has naturally diminished, his sharp positional awareness and refined finishing make him invaluable. As Wales head coach Craig Bellamy remarked ahead of their play-off meeting, Dzeko is a player who “doesn’t need too many chances to score.”
— Report by Mark White, Content Editor
