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Sports

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

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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. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The United States will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout journey on Wednesday with a Round of 32 match against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

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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.

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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?

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How good is Bosnia and Herzegovina in soccer?

  • Qualified via: UEFA playoff round, def. Wales (semifinals) and Italy (finals)

  • Head coach: Sergej Barbarez (BIH)

  • 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.

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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.

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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

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Position

No.

Player

Club

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Age

Caps

GK

12

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Mladen Jurkas

Borac Banja Luka (Premier League, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

18

0

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GK

1

Nikola Vasilj

St. Pauli (Bundesliga, Germany)

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30

25

GK

22

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Martin Zlomislic

Rijeka (HNL, Croatia)

27

2

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DEF

5

Sead Kolasinac

Atalanta (Serie A, Italy)

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32

64

DEF

7

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Amar Dedic

Benfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)

23

26

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DEF

2

Nihad Mujakic

Partizan (SuperLiga, Serbia)

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28

10

DEF

18

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Nikola Katic

Schalke (Bundesliga, Germany)

29

14

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DEF

4

Tarik Muharemovic

Sassuolo (Serie A, Italy)

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23

12

DEF

21

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Stjepan Radeljic

Rijeka (HNL, Croatia)

28

4

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DEF

3

Dennis Hadzikadunic

Sampdoria (Serie B, Italy)

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27

30

DEF

24

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Nidal Celik

Lens (Ligue 1, France)

19

7

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MID

16

Amir Hadziahmetovic

Besiktas (Super Lig, Turkey)

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29

34

MID

14

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Ivan Sunjic

Pafos (First Division, Cyprus)

29

10

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MID

13

Ivan Basic

Astana (Premier League, Kazakhstan)

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24

15

MID

17

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Dzenis Burnic

Karlsruher (Bundesliga, Germany)

27

18

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MID

26

Ermin Mahmic

Slovan Liberec (First League, Czechia)

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21

0

MID

6

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Benjamin Tahirovic

Brondby (Superliga, Denmark)

23

26

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MID

15

Amar Memic

Viktoria Plzen (First League, Czechia)

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25

11

MID

8

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Armin Gigovic

Young Boys (Super League, Switzerland)

24

18

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MID

19

Kerim Alajbegovic

Salzburg (Bundesliga, Austria)

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18

8

MID

20

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Esmir Bajraktarevic

PSV (Eredivisie, Netherlands)

21

14

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FWD

10

Ermedin Demirovic

Stuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany)

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28

38

FWD

25

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Jovo Lukic

Universitatea Cluj (SuperLiga, Romania)

27

1

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FWD

9

Samed Bazdar

Real Zaragoza (Segunda Division, Spain)

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22

11

FWD

23

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Haris Tabakovic

Hoffenheim (Bundesliga, Germany)

31

10

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FWD

11

Edin Dzeko

Schalke (2. Bundesliga, Germany)

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40

148

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“This is another league” – Fans cheer as Graff names BTS’ Jungkook its first-ever global ambassador in its 66-year history

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BTS member Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook) added another luxury brand to his growing list of global partnerships. On July 2, 2026, British luxury jewelry house Graff announced the singer as its first-ever global ambassador since the brand was founded 66 years ago.

Graff introduced BTS’s ‘Golden Maknae’ as its new global ambassador and revealed that he would star in the new Laurence Graff Signature campaign, showcasing pieces from the brand’s iconic goldwear collection. The announcement came after days of speculation among fans.

On June 23, 2026, Jungkook was seen wearing multiple Graff rings during his departure from South Korea to Madrid, Spain, alongside his BTS bandmates for the group’s European concert schedule. The jewelry he wore was estimated to have a combined value of around $126,500, prompting fans to speculate that a partnership with the luxury house was on the way. Following that on June 1, the brand also released a teaser video further igniting the speculation.

Along with the announcement, the company unveiled its latest Laurence Graff Signature campaign starring the BTS member. The brand released a video and three campaign images.

In the campaign, Jungkook is dressed in a black suit layered over a black T-shirt while showcasing pieces from the Laurence Graff collection. The line reimagines founder Laurence Graff’s signature approach to exceptional diamond cutting through faceted precious metal links in bold gold designs.

The campaign images and teaser quickly spread across social media, where fans celebrated both the collaboration and the significance of the announcement. Many pointed out that the idol had become the first global ambassador in Graff’s history, describing the appointment as another major milestone in his career. One fan wrote,

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“Need a perspective of how prestigious Graff is? Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana wore the brand. Jungkook is its first ever Global Brand Ambassador in history. This is another league.”

Need a perspective of how prestigious Graff is? Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana wore the brand. Jungkook is its first ever Global Brand Ambassador in history. This is another league.

Many others echoed similar sentiments, congratulating Jungkook on the achievement. Several fans pointed out that Graff’s decision to choose him for its first-ever global ambassador role reflected his worldwide influence and standing.

A 66-year history and Jungkook is the first to hold this role, that alone makes this collaboration feel incredibly special and milestone-worthy

That’s such a historic move from Graff… choosing Jungkook as their very first global ambassador really says a lot about his global influence and presence

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Also GRAFF is the first ever jewellery brand to win the Queen’s Enterprise Award, one of the most prestigious honours for a British company. And its average transaction price is estimated to be around $400K higher than Cartier, Harry Winston, and other major luxury brands…

Guess the diamonds finally found someone who can hit the high notes and the high sparkle. Talk about a true rock star in every sense.

Others expressed their excitement over the announcement, saying they were thrilled and proud of the youngest BTS member for achieving another major collaboration. Many also felt he was the ideal choice to represent the luxury jeweler.

graff’s first ever global ambassador oh that’s huge i’m so proud of him! 🥹

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Jungkook, I’m literally screaming so excited and proud for you OMG!!!

oh he was definitely the perfect choice for ambassador of this brand look at him


Graff CEO welcomes Jungkook as global ambassador; BTS star says he is ‘profoundly honored’

Graff also shared a statement from its Chief Executive Officer, François Graff, following the announcement. He described Jungkook as a cultural icon whose artistry aligns with the luxury jeweler’s creative vision. The CEO also expressed,

“Jung Kook is a cultural icon, known for his multifaceted talents. His performances are bold yet refined, crafted with a brilliance that is impossible to ignore. Just as we at Graff push the boundaries of what is achievable in luxury jewellery, Jungkook continually challenges creative boundaries in his work. We are delighted to welcome him as Graff’s new global ambassador.”

Speaking separately to WWD on the same day, François Graff echoed similar sentiments. He said the idol’s multifaceted talent and commitment to artistic excellence reflected the values Graff represents.

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“He always offers remarkable performances. Just like Graff, which strives to push the boundaries of high jewelry, [he] explores and constantly surpasses those of his creativity” said François Graff.

Jungkook also commented on the partnership, saying he felt “profoundly honored” to join Graff as its newest global ambassador. He described the British luxury house as “the originator of so many legends throughout the decades,” expressing his appreciation for becoming part of the brand’s legacy.

With the Graff announcement, the singer has further expanded his portfolio of global luxury partnerships. The BTS star is also associated with Hublot, Chanel Fragrance and Beauty and Calvin Klein, adding Graff as another internationally recognized brand to his list of collaborations.

The announcement coincides with Jungkook’s ongoing activities with BTS on the ARIRANG World Tour. At the time of the reveal, the group is set to take the stage for the second night of its Brussels concerts at King Baudouin Stadium on July 2.