Sergej Barbarez is relishing Bosnia-Herzegovina’s underdog tag at the World Cup after putting themselves in a strong position to reach the knockout stages.
Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 at Seattle Stadium in their final group game, resulting in them ending the first phase of the competition in third, just behind Canada and Switzerland.
Kerim Alajbegovic’s stunning 29th-minute strike gave Bosnia the lead, as he became his nation’s top scorer at the World Cup (two), despite never starting a match at the finals.
An own goal from Mahmoud Abunada doubled Bosnia’s lead five minutes later, but Qatar pulled one back through captain Hassan Al Haydos just before the half-time whistle.
However, the win was sealed by Ermin Mahmic 10 minutes from time, as Bosnia ended a seven-game winless run and edged closer to reaching the last 32 for the first time in what is just their second appearance at the World Cup.
Bosnia had to come through qualifying, beating Wales and Italy, to reach the World Cup, and Barbarez believes his team can achieve something special in North America.
“We came here as complete underdogs,” Barbarez told reporters. “We’re trying to do something big and major, and this is now something that has come true.”
Bosnia’s blend of youth and experience within their side was on show against Qatar, with Alajbegovic becoming the eighth-youngest goalscorer in World Cup history aged 18 years and 276 days old.
“We have a lot of young players, and I truly do believe that this national team has just begun, and that the next World Cup will be their true World Cup,” Barbarez added.
1 – Kerim Alajbegovic (18 Jahre, 276 Tage) ist der jüngste Spieler mit einem Tor von außerhalb des Strafraums bei einer FIFA-Weltmeisterschaft seit detaillierter Datenerfassung 1966.
Er löste damit Kylian Mbappé ab (19 Jahre, 207 Tage bei der WM 2018).
Furchtlos. pic.twitter.com/5FOC0XEnac
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 24, 2026
Edin Dzeko, who is Bosnia’s all-time appearance maker, also made his 150th appearance for the nation against Qatar, whilst it was his fifth outing at the World Cup, the joint-most of any player for the Dragons along with Sead Kolasinac.
As it stands, Bosnia are set for a clash with co-hosts the United States in the next round at Levi’s Stadium, and Barbarez is not worried about facing Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
“I think we are confident enough to face anyone,” the Bosnia boss said.
For Qatar, meanwhile, their defeat saw them eliminated from the World Cup, though they had their chances throughout the contest to try and peg Bosnia back.
Pedro Miguel hit the woodwork after Al Haydos halved the deficit, while Akram Afif hit the side-netting, but Qatar were unable to maintain their momentum in the closing stages.
Qatar remain winless in the competition, with only Honduras (nine) and New Zealand (eight) playing more World Cup matches without recording a single victory than their six.
However, Julen Lopetegui believes that despite the result, Qatar showed they have more than enough to compete on the international stage for years to come.
“This last match allowed us to take one step ahead in Qatar football, Qatar history,” Lopetegui said.
“I think that they showed that at least we were able to compete in these kinds of matches.
“I don’t know if this will be or not the last match for some of them but the young players, they have to learn and take this example for the future, to be able to have other possibilities in history – I don’t know when it’s going to happen.”
