The U.S. men's national soccer team is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 1. The matchup pits the U.S. team against a squad that analysts suggest should not be underestimated.
One perspective likens the game to "11 U.S. Jet Skis against a large Bosnian battleship, really a Balkans collective," highlighting a perceived advantage for the U.S. side. However, the Bosnian team boasts significant talent, including Edin Dzeko, their all-time leading goal-scorer and a former prolific striker for clubs like Manchester City and Inter Milan. "He’s one of the game’s great eternal snipers," one observer noted.
Another player of note is Esmir Bajraktarevic, who has earned the nickname "Milwaukee Messi." Bajraktarevic, whose parents are refugees from Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, grew up in Wisconsin. He made his Major League Soccer debut with the New England Revolution in 2022. At 18, he received a call-up to the senior U.S. national team in 2024 after playing for U.S. youth teams, appearing in one friendly before switching his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina that summer.
The match represents a critical juncture for the U.S. team as they advance into the knockout stages of the World Cup.