Bosnia and Herzegovina, having secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the final teams to book their place, have become the first nation to announce their final tournament squad. The Balkan side confirmed a 26-man selection today, named by head coach Sergej Barbarez, combining experience, youth, and several new inclusions.
The squad features veteran striker Edin Džeko, aged 40, who remains the country’s most capped player and all-time leading goalscorer. Alongside him is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Ermin Mahmić, one of the new additions to the national set-up. Džeko continues to be regarded as the central figure of the team due to his record and long-standing contribution.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are preparing for only their second appearance at a FIFA World Cup, following their debut in 2014 when they were eliminated at the group stage. From that squad, only Džeko and defender Sead Kolašinac remain in the current selection, highlighting the extent of squad transition under Barbarez.
Their qualification came through the play-offs, where Bosnia defeated Wales and Italy on penalties to secure a place at the finals. However, Džeko sustained an injury during extra time in the play-off final against Italy. This caused him to miss four matches for Schalke, although his return in the last two fixtures has eased concerns over his fitness ahead of the tournament.
Ermin Mahmić, born in Austria, recently had his eligibility for Bosnia approved by FIFA earlier this month. He has previously represented Austria at Under-17 and Under-21 levels and also played for Bosnia’s Under-19 team. Following FIFA approval, he was immediately included in the senior squad.
Head coach Barbarez highlighted Mahmić’s versatility in midfield, noting his ability to operate in both the number 8 and number 10 roles, an area where Bosnia reportedly has limited depth. He also expressed expectations regarding the player’s long-term role in the national team setup.
Bosnia’s squad also includes Kerim Alai… Albogovic, an 18-year-old winger from Red Bull Salzburg, who is the youngest member of the squad. He contributed significantly in the qualification play-offs, providing an assist for Džeko against Wales, scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout, and also converting a penalty against Italy.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026 World Cup Squad
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Nikola Vasil, Martin Zlomislić, Osman Hadžikić |
| Defenders | Sead Kolašinac, Amar Dedić, Nihad Mujačić, Nikola Katić, Tarik Muharemović, Stjepan Radeljić, Dennis Hadžikadunić, Nidal Čelik |
| Midfielders | Amir Hadžiahmetović, Ivan Šunjić, Ivan Bašić, Jannis Burnić, Ermin Mahmić, Benjamin Tahirović, Amar Memić, Armin Gigović, Kerim Alai… Albogovic, Esmir Bajraktarević |
| Forwards | Ermedin Demirović, Jovo Lukić, Samed Baždar, Haris Tabaković, Edin Džeko |
Before the World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina will play two friendly matches. The first will take place on 29 May in Sarajevo against North Macedonia, followed by a fixture against Panama in St. Louis. Their World Cup campaign will begin on 12 June in Toronto against Canada.
Bosnia are placed in Group B, where they will face Argentina, Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
