How good is Bosnia and Herzegovina in soccer? What to know about USMNT’s knockout opponent in 2026 World Cup

How good is Bosnia and Herzegovina in soccer? What to know about USMNT’s knockout opponent in 2026 World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The United States will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout journey on Wednesday with a Round of 32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side won Group D to reach the knockout round, finishing top of their group for the first time ever at a FIFA World Cup.

That saw the USMNT secure a third-place qualifier in the opening knockout stage, drawing European side Bosnia & Herzegovina out of Group C, which is Canada’s bracket. Ranked 61st in the world by FIFA, Sergej Barbarez’s side qualified for the World Cup via the UEFA playoff, beating both Wales and Italy on penalties to earn passage.

The Sporting News brings you all you need to know about Bosnia & Herzegovina, including what they’re ranked, who their top players are, and what their history against the U.S. is.

MORE:Where is Bosnia & Herzegovina on a map?

How good is Bosnia and Herzegovina in soccer?

• FIFA world rank: 61st
• UEFA rank: 29th
• Qualified via: UEFA playoff round, def. Wales (semifinals) and Italy (finals)
• Head coach: Sergej Barbarez (BIH)
• Captain: Edin Dzeko (150 caps)
• Notable players: Edin Dzeko (Schalke), Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV), Amar Dedic (Benfica)

Bosnia & Herzegovina, formerly part of Yugoslavia, have been a staple in European football for decades, but they have fallen on hard times of late.

Their qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup was their first appearance at the tournament since 2014, and second overall as Bosnia & Herzegovina. They held Italy to a 1-1 draw in the playoff final, winning on penalties in a heroic result that knocked out the four-time champions.

Overall, though, they are a mid-level European nation at best. They have never reached a European Championship final tournament as Bosnia & Herzegovina, and they have flip-flopped between the lower portion of League A and upper portion of League B in UEFA Nations League competition.

Bosnia & Herzegovina have slowly been on the rise, but they are down from the days where they were ranked in the 20’s globally 15 years ago, and have not done much to develop young talent of the same level.

USMNT record vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

• USA record vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina: 2 W, 1 D, 0 L*
• First meeting: Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-4 USA (Aug. 14, 2013 | International friendly)
• Last meeting: USA 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Dec. 18, 2021 | International friendly)

* Does not include previous iterations of national team, including competition as Yugoslavia

The United States have met Bosnia & Herzegovina, or its former iterations, four times in history.

The first meeting came at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when the USMNT were beaten 1-0 in the Group F finale on a goal from Slobodan Komljenovic. The result eliminated the United States from the competition, while Yugoslavia qualified as second-place finishers in the group.

They met again on August 14, 2013 as the U.S. visited Europe and won a high-scoring friendly 4-3 in Sarajevo. Jozy Altidore scored a hat-trick, including goals in the 84th minute and 86th minute, to secure the win. Edin Dzeko also bagged a brace to keep his side in the mix.

Most recently, they met in 2021, during a match in December, where a goal by Cole Bassett in the 89th minute gave the U.S. a 1-0 victory. The USMNT played the entire second half up a man after Amar Begic was sent off for a terrible two-footed challenge on Kellyn Acosta.

Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup squad

Head coach: Sergej Barbarez