News Focus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina become the first of 48 competing nations to confirm their complete 26-man World Cup squad
- Edin Džeko, aged 40, named as captain and poised to become only the second outfield player to feature at a World Cup after turning 40
- Squad features strong Bundesliga connections including players from Schalke 04, VfB Stuttgart, and Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Bosnia will face Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar in Group D during the tournament hosted across USA, Mexico, and Canada
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić also expected to join the 40-plus club at this summer’s finals
Bosnia and Herzegovina have made history by becoming the inaugural nation to unveil their complete 26-man roster for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup finals. Head coach Sergej Barbarez has entrusted the captain’s armband to veteran striker Edin Džeko, who will celebrate his 40th birthday before the tournament kicks off across North America.
The Schalke 04 forward is set to join an exclusive club of outfield players who have competed at football’s global showpiece beyond their fourth decade. Currently, only Cameroon’s legendary Roger Milla has achieved this feat, having graced the 1994 finals in the United States aged 42. This summer’s edition promises to triple that figure, with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (41) and Croatia’s Luka Modrić (40) also anticipated to feature for their respective countries.
Džeko’s selection marks a return to the world stage twelve years after his initial appearance at Brazil 2014, when Bosnia made their World Cup debut. The former Manchester City striker found the net once during that campaign as the Dragons exited at the group phase, whilst Vedad Ibišević etched his name into Bosnian football folklore by scoring the nation’s inaugural World Cup goal against Argentina.
That particular fixture against the eventual champions also witnessed defensive misery for Sead Kolašinac, who inadvertently directed the ball into his own net after just two minutes and six seconds—a record for the fastest own-goal in tournament history that still stands today. The Atalanta defender, now 32, has earned his place in Barbarez’s squad alongside fellow Serie A representative Tarik Muharemović.
The squad announcement highlights significant representation from Germany’s top two divisions. Schalke centre-back Nikola Katić joins his club captain Džeko in the travelling party, whilst St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj faces a nervous weekend awaiting his club’s Bundesliga fate before concentrating on international duties. The 30-year-old shot-stopper will be crucial as Bosnia open their Group D account against Canada in Toronto.
German-born midfielder Dženis Burnić, currently plying his trade with Karlsruher SC in the second tier, offers further Bundesliga pedigree despite limited top-flight minutes with Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart earlier in his career. Meanwhile, teenage prospect Kerim Alajbegović returns to Bayer Leverkusen following an impressive spell with RB Salzburg, and could provide youthful energy alongside established frontmen Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart) and Haris Tabaković (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Bosnia’s attacking options also include PSV Eindhoven’s Esmir Bajraktarević and Benfica full-back Amar Dedić, offering Barbarez tactical flexibility. Following their curtain-raiser against the hosts in Toronto, the Balkan nation will travel to Inglewood to battle Switzerland—Tabaković’s country of birth—before concluding their group programme against Qatar in Seattle.
Whilst South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil have merely published provisional lists, Bosnia’s comprehensive selection provides clarity for Barbarez’s preparations as they aim to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli), Martin Zlomislić (HNK Rijeka), Osman Hadžikić (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders: Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta BC), Amar Dedić (SL Benfica), Nihad Mujakić (Gaziantep FK), Nikola Katić (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemović (US Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljić (HNK Rijeka), Dennis Hadžikadunić (UC Sampdoria), Nidal Čelik (Lens)
Midfielders: Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City), Ivan Šunjić (Pafos FC), Ivan Bašić (FC Astana), Dženis Burnić (Karlsruher SC), Ermin Mahmić (FC Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirović (Bröndby IF), Amar Memić (FC Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigović (BSC Young Boys)
Forwards: Kerim Alajbegović (RB Salzburg, joining Bayer Leverkusen), Esmir Bajraktarević (PSV Eindhoven), Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukić (FC Universitatea Cluj), Samed Baždar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabaković (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Edin Džeko (Schalke 04)