Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia and the aftermath of a brutal war to become one of the Balkans' most talented modern programs. Built around a technically gifted generation led by Edin Džeko and Miralem Pjanić, the team broke through to reach its first FIFA World Cup in 2014. Bosnia plays an attacking, possession-oriented style and remains a fixture of European qualifying. The program is a source of unifying national pride for a country still shaped by its recent history.

The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established following the country's 1992 independence from Yugoslavia, though the national team's first match was not played until November 1995, days after the end of the Bosnian War; the federation joined FIFA and UEFA in 1996. After playoff heartbreak against Portugal for both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, Bosnia finally broke through in 2013, topping its group to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, its first and to that point only appearance at the tournament. The team beat Iran in the group stage and reached a program-record 13th in the FIFA world rankings. Bosnia and Herzegovina returned to the World Cup for the 2026 edition, reaching the knockout stage for the first time in its history.