Bosnia striker Jovo Lukic sidelined after World Cup debut

Jovo Lukic opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup strongly for Bosnia and Herzegovina, scoring in the 1‑1 draw against Canada. After the match he lost his place in the starting lineup. He featured for only four minutes in the subsequent group game versus Switzerland and did not play at all in the fixtures against Qatar and the United States.

Bosnia’s coach Sergej Barbarez reinstated veteran Edin Džeko, leaving Lukic on the bench despite his earlier performance. Serbian media accused the coach of “humiliating” the striker, quoting: “Unde a dispărut Jovo Lukic? Mai întâi a fost eroul Bosniei, apoi selecționerul l-a umilit.” Bosnia were eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2‑0 loss to the United States, ending their tournament run.