Bosnia and Herzegovina football team hails historic World Cup round‑of‑16 finish

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team achieved a historic milestone at the FIFA World Cup, advancing to the round of 16 for the first time before losing 2‑0 to the United States.

Captain Edin Džeko praised the squad’s achievement, saying, “We return home proud. We should be proud of what we have done.” He hinted that his future with the national side remains undecided. Young forward Esmir Bajraktarević thanked supporters, declaring, “We are proud of the history we have written, but this is only the beginning. We will keep giving everything for our proud country.”

Midfielder Ermin Mahmić, who scored two goals – the first Bosnian player ever to net more than one World Cup goal – expressed deep gratitude: “It is a privilege to wear Bosnia’s jersey; the whole country stood behind us. This is not the end, it is just the start.”

After the tournament the team returned to Sarajevo, where only a handful of fans greeted Džeko, Nikola Katić and Ivan Bašić at the airport; an official city reception was cancelled, though the mayor’s office issued a statement of congratulations.