BIH
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP B · POT 4

Bosnia and Herzegovina
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Sergej Barbarez · Bosnian head coach since 2024. A former Bosnian forward (47 caps, 17 international goals) with Bundesliga playing experience at Hamburg and Leverkusen. First World Cup at the helm.
MD1 Jun 12 vs Canada MD2 Jun 18 vs Switzerland MD3 Jun 24 vs Qatar
1th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (2014)
26
Squad size
26.0
Avg. age
26 / 26
Overseas-based
2 / 23
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Sergej Barbarez's Bosnia and Herzegovina announced their final 26 on May 11 (the earliest among Tier 3). This is Bosnia's first World Cup in 12 years (since Brazil 2014) — and the final World Cup stage for 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko (Schalke 04).

Spine: Džeko (73 international goals — all-time top scorer) + Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta, ex-Arsenal) + Amar Dedić (Benfica's right-back) + Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart) + Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli's No.1). A Bundesliga, Serie A and Primeira Liga-heavy squad with deep European pedigree.

Group B fixtures: June 12 vs hosts Canada → June 18 vs Switzerland → June 24 vs Qatar. The Switzerland clash carries Balkan-heritage subplots through the Swiss squad (Xhaka, Akanji). Surpassing the 2014 group-stage exit and reaching the R16 is realistic — Džeko's last dance is the headline.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-2-3-1.

Barbarez's preferred 4-2-3-1. The 40-year-old Džeko leads the line with Tahirović or Bajraktarević in the No.10 role. Hadžiahmetović and Gigović form the double pivot, with Hadžikadunić and Muharemović at the back and veteran Kolašinac at left-back.

4-2-3-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

11
ST · FW
Edin Džeko
Schalke 04 · 40
148 caps · 73G WC: 2014
Captain & 40yo all-time top scorer
CAPTAIN
7
RB · DF
Amar Dedić
Benfica · 23
28 caps · 1G WC debut
Benfica right-back
ACE
5
LB · DF
Sead Kolašinac
Atalanta · 32 · Serie A
65 caps · 0G WC: 2014
Veteran left-back
10
ST · FW
Ermedin Demirović
VfB Stuttgart · 28 · Bundesliga
40 caps · 4G WC debut
Bundesliga No.9
1
GK · GK
Nikola Vasilj
FC St. Pauli · 30 · Bundesliga
26 caps · 0G WC debut
No.1 (St. Pauli)
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 10
FW FORWARDS 5
GROUP B

GROUP B.

CAN
Canada
POT 1
SUI
Switzerland
POT 2
QAT
Qatar
POT 3
BIH
Bosnia and Herzegovina
POT 4
Fri, Jun 12
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Toronto Stadium · Toronto
Vs hosts Canada in Toronto. Bosnia's second-ever World Cup (after 2014) opens against a home-advantaged opponent — Dedić and Kolašinac must contain Davies' pace.
View lineups →
MD1
Thu, Jun 18
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Los Angeles Stadium · Inglewood, CA
Vs Switzerland — a loaded match-up given the many Balkan-heritage Swiss players (Xhaka, Akanji). Džeko's experience and Demirović's physicality go up against Swiss CBs.
View lineups →
MD2
Wed, Jun 24
Qatar vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Seattle Stadium · Seattle, WA
Group decider vs Qatar (2022 hosts). Bosnia push for a knockout berth — Džeko's potential final-tournament moment demands three points.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group B
  1. Round of 32 Jul 02 · Vancouver vs 3rd place (E/F/G/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Vancouver vs Winner of Match 87
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 95
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
Runners-up, Group B
  1. Round of 32 Jun 28 · Inglewood vs Runners-up Group A
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Houston vs Winner of Match 75
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 89
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
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