Zlatan Ibrahimovic was left emotional as he watched Bosnia and Herzegovina reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time
Football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave an emotional reaction to watching Bosnia & Herzegovina’s reach the knockout stages of the World Cup. The former Sweden superstar became visibly emotional while working as a FOX pundit following Bosnia & Herzegovina’s 3-1 victory over Qatar, which saw them reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history.
Typically composed, he had a deeply personal stake in Bosnia’s triumph due to his father’s roots. Bosnia & Herzegovina will face co-hosts the United States in the round of 32 match in the World Cup, and Ibrahimovic gave an emotional reaction to watching the country qualify for the knockout stages.
“That’s what football is all about, bringing people together and especially for Bosnia. How much this country has suffered and to see this happiness makes me very emotional,” Ibrahimovic said on FOX Sports. “Gives me goosebumps because that’s my father’s roots.”
The Bosnian War during the 1990s resulted in more than 100,000 deaths. Prior to independence, Bosnian athletes competed for Yugoslavia, but following the formation of their own national side, Bosnia secured qualification for their first World Cup in 2014.
The conflict also led to many people losing their homes, including Ibrahimovic’s Bosnian father and Croatian mother, who relocated to Sweden before Yugoslavia’s dissolution. Bosnia was not recognised by FIFA until 1996.
After relocating to Sweden, Ibrahimovic embarked on a career that would see him become Sweden’s leading international goal-scorer.
Despite netting 62 international goals in 122 appearances, with 19 coming during World Cup qualifiers, Ibrahimovic finished his Sweden career without a single World Cup goal.
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“Just to see 70,000 singing, probably the Bosnian fans won already the World Cup and it makes me happy, very proud over them and see them also advance from the group stage,” Ibrahimovic continued.
“But the special moment is when the fans are singing, this is what makes me emotional, I cannot even express myself well now, but it’s a very emotional moment, and I’m just happy, I’m just happy.”
Ibrahimovic’s father, Sefik, was born in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and relocated to Sweden in 1977, where Zlatan was raised. He was best known as “Kinko,” a folk singer who launched his career in his hometown in 1985.
While Zlatan opted to represent Sweden, he frequently speaks about the significance of his Bosnian heritage. Bosnia’s 3-1 victory over Qatar marked a turnaround following a 1-1 draw with Canada and a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland.
Under manager Sergej Barbarez and captain Edin Dzeko, the side secured third place in Group B and progressed to the Round of 32, surpassing their previous best World Cup group stage exit in 2014. Bosnia will face the United States at Levi’s Stadium on July 1 to kick off their knockout phase.
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