2 hours ago
8
Bosnia-Herzegovina pulled off one of the more emphatic group-stage results of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beating Qatar 3-1 in Seattle on June 24. Now their sights are set on something bigger: knocking out the tournament’s co-hosts.
Defender Stjepan Radeljic, who made his World Cup debut in that match, isn’t exactly tiptoeing around expectations. In an interview with SiriusXM FC contributor Jon Morosi, Radeljic acknowledged the quality of the US Men’s National Team while making it clear that Bosnia-Herzegovina sees an upset as very much within reach.
A World Cup debut to remember
For Radeljic, the Qatar match was a milestone on multiple levels. Born on September 5, 1997, the Rijeka defender had accumulated just six international caps heading into the tournament. Starting a World Cup game was something else entirely.
The USA challenge
The expanded 2026 World Cup format, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, means the round of 32 is now the first knockout stage. For Bosnia-Herzegovina, drawing the host nation in that round is the kind of matchup that can define a generation of players.
Radeljic’s acknowledgment that the US squad is “quite good” reads less like deference and more like measured respect. He didn’t shy away from discussing Bosnia-Herzegovina’s chances, suggesting that eliminating the co-hosts would represent a landmark achievement for his national team.
Look at Bosnia-Herzegovina’s footballing history. Their first and only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014 in Brazil, where they exited in the group stage. Reaching the knockout rounds already represents progress.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·