Bosnia & Herzegovina

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Bosnia & Herzegovina's prospects for the FIFA World Cup 2026 currently hinge on their performance in the UEFA play-offs, having secured a spot as runners-up in Group H of the European Qualifiers.

Qualification Campaign Overview:

Bosnia & Herzegovina competed in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualifiers alongside Austria, Romania, Cyprus, and San Marino. They finished second in their group with 17 points from 8 matches, recording 5 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. This strong performance secured their advancement to the second round, which are the play-offs.

Notable results from their qualification campaign include a crucial 3-1 victory over Romania on November 15, 2025, which guaranteed them at least a playoff spot. They also had wins against San Marino (6-0 and 1-0), Cyprus (2-1), and Romania (1-0). Their only loss in the group stage was a 1-2 defeat to Austria in September 2025, and they later drew 1-1 with Austria in November 2025.

Team Overview & Analysis:

• Head Coach: Sergej Barbarez is the current head coach of the Bosnia & Herzegovina national football team.
• Captain: Veteran striker Edin Džeko, who plays for Fiorentina, continues to lead the team as captain and is also their all-time top scorer with 72 goals in 146 caps. At 39 years old, Džeko remains a vital presence, even scoring a winning goal against San Marino in a qualifier after coming on as a substitute.
• Key Players: The squad has a blend of experienced players and emerging talents. Beyond Džeko, other notable players in the 2025 squad include goalkeepers Nikola Vasilj (St. Pauli) and Osman Hadžikić (Slaven Belupo), defenders like Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta) and Amar Dedić (Benfica), midfielders such as Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City) and Benjamin Tahirović (Brøndby), and forwards like Haris Tabaković (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Ermedin Demirovic. The team's market value for the World Cup Qualifiers 2026 squad is approximately €113.10 million.
• Playing Style: Historically, Bosnia & Herzegovina has shown the ability to produce solid results in qualifiers and challenge for top spots. Their recent performances indicate a resilient side capable of securing crucial wins.
• FIFA Ranking: As of December 22, 2025, Bosnia & Herzegovina's FIFA ranking is 71. Their highest-ever ranking was 13th in August 2013.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Prospects:

Having secured a play-off berth, Bosnia & Herzegovina's path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will involve mini-tournaments where they will compete against other runners-up and potentially four top teams from the Nations League who didn't finish in the top two of their qualifying groups. The twelve group winners from the European Qualifiers will qualify directly. Bosnia & Herzegovina's historical performance includes one FIFA World Cup appearance in 2014, their best result to date. Their current form and the leadership of coach Sergej Barbarez and captain Edin Džeko will be critical in navigating the challenging play-off stage to secure a spot in the finals.

Latest News:

Recent news indicates that the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FFBiH) held its 6th session of the Executive Board in December 2025. There have also been discussions around a National Stadium Concept in November 2025. In terms of on-field performance, the women's national team drew with Greece in an international friendly in December 2025.