Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrating a major football achievement after securing qualification for the World Cup, a success described by veteran sports journalist Salih Hadžialić as one of the greatest in the country’s history, comparable only to Bosnia’s appearance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He said the road to qualification was difficult, especially after heavy defeats in warm-up matches against Germany and England, when calls were made for the dismissal of coach Sergej Barbarez and his staff. Despite the criticism, Bosnia eventually found its way through the playoff stage and completed a dramatic campaign with belief, discipline and resilience.
Hadžialić said the success came from a strong combination of coaching, technical planning and leadership. He pointed to the work of team director Emir Spahić and scout Saša Papac, who helped identify young players willing and able to strengthen the national team. He also credited Barbarez’s persistence and authority for bringing former teammates together around a shared goal. Bosnia’s late qualification run included a penalty shootout victory over Wales in Cardiff and a famous win over four-time world champions Italy in Zenica, results that required major mental and physical effort from the squad.
The journalist rejected suggestions that player selection was influenced by anything other than football quality. In his view, the coaching staff focused on talent, character and performance, and that approach led to success. He said the public celebrations after the win over Italy showed how football can unite society in ways politics cannot. Fans across Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from neighboring countries, joined in the excitement, with many people from Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia also expressing support.
Hadžialić said the qualification itself should already be seen as a huge achievement, while anything beyond that would be a bonus. He believes the World Cup will introduce a new generation of Bosnian players to the wider football world, alongside established names such as Edin Džeko. He highlighted younger talents including Bajraktarević, Alajbegović, Katić and Dedić, saying Bosnia now has a mix of experience and fresh energy.
Former Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begović also offered his views ahead of the team’s opening World Cup match against host Canada in Toronto. Having played in Canada’s youth system, he said both teams have similar chances and predicted a competitive game with a strong atmosphere, boosted by the home crowd and Bosnia’s diaspora. Still, he stressed that Bosnia must remain focused on the field and target a positive result.
Begović said avoiding defeat in the first match is important for reducing pressure in the rest of the group stage. He believes Bosnia has realistic chances to advance because the group is open and no team is overwhelming on paper. He named Switzerland as the strongest opponent in terms of experience and quality, but said Bosnia can compete with Canada and Qatar as well. Looking more broadly at the tournament, he identified France and Spain as the main favorites, while noting that Norway could be dangerous if Erling Haaland performs at his best. He also said Germany remains a serious contender, even if it is not as dominant as in past eras.
