Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Sergej Barbarez has unveiled his 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko and teenage winger Kerim Alajbegovic headlining the selections.
The Balkan nation, which also qualified for the tournament in 2014, will compete in its second World Cup this summer.
The 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko, the side’s talisman and all-time leading scorer, is one of only two survivors from the 2014 squad, alongside former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac, now with Atalanta. Dzeko will lead the team on the pitch, but 18-year-old winger Kerim Alajbegovic symbolizes Bosnia’s future. The teenager has enjoyed a breakout campaign with Red Bull Salzburg, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists across competitions. He is set to rejoin Bayer Leverkusen this summer and typically operates on the left flank, while 21-year-old U.S.-born winger Esmir Bajraktarevic of PSV Eindhoven occupies the right side.
Defender Tarik Muharemovic has impressed in Serie A with Sassuolo this season and is drawing summer transfer interest, while Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Haris Tabakovic has netted 12 league goals in Germany’s top flight. Bosnia secured their World Cup berth by finishing second in their qualification group behind Austria with 17 points from eight matches (only one loss), then overcoming Wales and Italy on penalties in the playoffs to claim the final spot in Group B, alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
The nation, which gained independence in 1992, failed to advance past the group stage in 2014 after narrow one-goal defeats to Argentina and Nigeria, plus a win over Iran.
**Any surprise omissions?**
Given Bosnia’s modest player pool, the squad contains few shocks, though some experienced internationals will be disappointed. Midfielder Amer Gojak, a regular for last season’s Croatian champions Rijeka and the second-highest active international scorer behind Dzeko with four goals, was a mainstay between 2018 and 2022 and made the preliminary squad but missed the final cut. Another midfielder, Haris Hajradinović (32, 16 caps), who featured three times in 2025, has also been left out. Right-back Jusuf Gazibegović lost his place after moving from Sturm Graz to FC Köln; despite a loan return to Sturm Graz in January, he did not make Barbarez’s final lineup.
**Any surprise inclusions?**
Three uncapped players are in the squad, each with a logical reason. Ermin Mahmić, a highly rated Austria-born midfielder, had his international allegiance switch to Bosnia confirmed by FIFA and is immediately included. The 21-year-old has impressed for Czech side Slovan Liberec this season with eight goals and could be a wildcard this summer. Centre-back Nidal Čelik, 19, considered one of Bosnia’s brightest young talents, joined French Ligue 1 club Lens last summer and now earns his first senior call-up. Third-choice goalkeeper Osman Hadžikić of Croatia’s Slaven Belupo also switched from Austria’s youth ranks; he is unlikely to see game time behind established starter Nikola Vasilj and backup Martin Zlomislić.
**Notable injury absentees?**
The most significant absentee due to injury is centre-back Adrian Leon Barišić. The 24-year-old had been a regular in qualifying but misses out after failing to recover in time.