Sergej Barbarez, the former Bundesliga player and current manager of Bosnia and Herzegovina, became the first national team coach to unveil his World Cup squad for the 2026 tournament. The 26-man roster features numerous familiar faces from German football, with captain Edin Dzeko (40) at the forefront.
Dzeko’s Schalke teammate Nikola Katic (29) also made the cut, alongside KSC midfielder Dzenis Burnic (27) from Germany’s second division. From the Bundesliga, St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (30), Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic (28), and Gladbach forward Haris Tabakovic (31) were selected. Notably, Tabakovic scored the crucial penalty in the playoff victory against Italy (a 4-1 shootout win) that secured Bosnia’s place in the World Cup.
Other recognizable players in the squad include former Besiktas midfielder Amir Hadžiahmetović, ex-Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac (23), former HSV player Dennis Hadzikadunic (27), ex-Kiel man Armin Gigovic (24), former Hertha star Ivan Sunjic (29), and Stjepan Radeljic (28), who briefly trained at Stuttgart. Teenage talent Kerim Alajbegovic (18), who will return to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, ranks among the team’s most valuable players with a market value of €15 million. Only VfB’s Demirovic (€22 million) and Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemović (€20 million) are valued higher.
