Bosnia and Herzegovina have become the first nation to officially announce their 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, a roster that blends seasoned veterans with emerging young talent. Leading the list is 40-year-old Edin Dzeko, who turned 40 on March 17th of this year and is set to captain Bosnia in his second World Cup. Dzeko previously featured in the 2014 tournament, scoring once in a group-stage win over Iran. He also remains Bosnia's all-time leading scorer.
Joining Dzeko is fellow veteran Sead Kolašinac, who will also appear in his second World Cup. The squad also features rising stars such as Esmir Bajraktarević, who shone during the UEFA playoff against Italy, converting the fourth penalty in the shootout that eliminated the Azzurri.
Head coach Sergej Barbarez acknowledged the difficulty of narrowing down the selection. "It is always difficult to tell someone that they will not be part of the team for the World Cup. We decided to start with 26 players so that we can have the opportunity to react if problems arise." Barbarez has also named nine additional players on standby in case of injury or illness.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will begin their training camp on May 23rd and play a friendly against North Macedonia on May 29th at Koševo Stadium. The team will then travel to the United States for a second friendly against Panama on June 6th in St. Louis. Their World Cup campaign begins on June 12th against co-host Canada at the Toronto Stadium.