Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup 2026 squad: Sergej Barbarez's latest squad ahead of March play-off

Jump To:SquadFixtures and resultsManagerStar playerBest XICopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet the FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! 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Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterBosnia and Herzegovina's squad is defined by a blend of last dance veteran leaders and a rapidly accelerating youth movement.Head coach Sergej Barbarez has named a 25-man roster for the critical World Cup play-off semi-final against Wales which includes 40-year-old Edin Dzeko as well as up-and-comers Kerim Alajbegovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic and Nidal Celik.If Bosnia manage to defeat Wales in Cardiff, they will face either Italy or Northern Ireland in a final winner-takes-all match for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.Article continues below You may like Wales World Cup 2026 squad: Craig Bellamy's latest selection ahead of the March international break Republic of Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: Heimir Hallgrmsson's latest selection ahead of the play-offs England World Cup 2026 squad: Thomas Tuchel's latest squad ahead of the March internationals The headline, as it has been for nearly two decades, is Edin Dzeko. Now 40 years-old and playing for Schalke in Germany, the ex-Manchester City striker remains the focal point of Bosnia's attack.Despite his age, Dzekos form in the 2. Bundesliga, where he became the oldest goalscorer in the league's history earlier this year, has kept him as a guaranteed starter. With Miralem Pjanic having officially retired from football in December last year, Dzeko stands as the final active member of Bosnia's 'golden generation' that reached the 2014 World Cup.Barbarez's preferred style is physical and high-energy emphasising quick transitions.Midfielders Benjamin Tahirovic and Armin Gigovic operate in the engine room, while Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirovic is the perfect foil for Dzeko, often doing the so-called dirty work to allow the captain to stay in the box.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup 2026 play-offs squad: The March selectionBosnia and Herzegovina World Cup 2026 play-offs squadGK: Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli)GK: Martin Zlomisli (Rijeka)GK: Osman Hadiki (Slaven Belupo)DF: Sead Kolainac (Atalanta)DF: Dennis Hadikaduni (Sampdoria)DF: Amar Dedi (Benfica)DF: Nikola Kati (Schalke 04)DF: Tarik Muharemovi (Sassuolo)DF: Nihad Mujaki (Gaziantep)DF: Stjepan Radelji (Rijeka)DF: Nidal elik (Lens)MF: Amir Hadiahmetovi (Hull City)MF: Benjamin Tahirovi (Brndby)MF: Armin Gigovi (Young Boys)MF: Denis Burni (Karlsruher SC)MF: Ivan Bai (Astana)MF: Amar Memi (Viktoria Plze)MF: Ivan unji (Pafos)FW: Edin Deko (Schalke 04)FW: Ermedin Demirovi (VfB Stuttgart)FW: Esmir Bajraktarevi (PSV)FW: Samed Badar (Jagiellonia Biaystok)FW: Haris Tabakovi (Borussia Mnchengladbach)FW: Kerim Alajbegovi (Red Bull Salzburg)FW: Jovo Luki (Universitatea Cluj)Bosnia and Herzegovina fixtures and resultsFixturesMarch 26, 2026: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, WalesMarch 31, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina *September 25, 2026: Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, PolandSeptember 28, 2026: Romania vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, National Arena, Bucharest, RomaniaOctober 2, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Sweden, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOctober 5, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Poland, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and HerzegovinaNovember 14, 2026: Sweden vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Friends Arena, Stockholm, SwedenNovember 17, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Romania, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina*Note: The fixture on March 31 depends on the result of the semi-final against Wales. If Bosnia wins, they host the Play-off Final; if they lose, they play a friendly against the loser of the Italy vs Northern Ireland match.Recent resultsNovember 18, 2025: Austria 11 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna, AustriaNovember 15, 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 31 Romania, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and HerzegovinaOctober 12, 2025: Malta 14 Bosnia and Herzegovina, National Stadium, Ta' Qali, MaltaOctober 09, 2025: Cyprus 22 Bosnia and Herzegovina, AEK Arena, Larnaca, CyprusSeptember 09, 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 Austria, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and HerzegovinaSeptember 06, 2025: San Marino 06 Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San MarinoBosnia and Herzegovina manager: Sergej BarbarezSergej Barbarez is former captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team who was appointed in April 2024, tasked with instituting a new era after a decade of decline.Despite having zero previous senior management experience before taking the job, Barbarez led Bosnia to their most successful World Cup qualifying campaign in years.Bosnia finished 2nd in Group H, narrowly missing out on automatic qualification to Austria.Bosnia's star playerEdin DzekoEdin Dzekos international career is the definitive story of Bosnian football in the 21st century. Since making a goal-scoring debut against Turkey in June 2007, Dzeko has gone from a promising young striker to becoming the nations undisputed greatest-ever player. He is the most-capped player (146 appearances) and the all-time leading goalscorer (72 goals) for Bosnia and Herzegovina.Even at 40 years-old, the Premier League winner carries a threat and is enjoying something of an Indian summer in 2. Bundesliga with Schalke.Any physical decline has been offset by elite game intelligence and a specialised role as a pure target man. He isn't the type of player who will outrun a defence, but as Wales head coach Craig Bellamy noted ahead of their play-off, Dzeko is a player who 'doesn't need too many chances to score.'Best XITOPICSEdin DzekoWorld Cup 2026Joe DonnohueSocial Links NavigationSenior Digital WriterJoe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.