In a stunning turn of events, Bosnia & Herzegovina secured their place in the 2026 World Cup by defeating Italy in a dramatic penalty shootout, sparking wild celebrations led by former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who partied through the night with his arm in a sling.
Historic Victory for Bosnia
The match in Zenica ended 1-1 after extra time, with Bosnia triumphing 4-1 in the penalty shootout. This victory marks only the second World Cup appearance for Bosnia, following their debut in Brazil 2014, and represents a significant milestone in the nation's football history.
Dzeko's Injury and Resilience
Edin Dzeko, aged 40, suffered a shoulder injury in the final seconds of extra time after being fouled by Davide Frattesi. Despite receiving treatment, he played the full 120 minutes but was unable to participate in the shootout, watching from the sidelines with his arm immobilized.
Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez expressed hope that Dzeko's injury is not severe, stating, "I hope that it is not a great injury to Edin Dzeko and that he will be able to be with us at the World Cup because he does not have much time."
Night of Celebration
Undeterred by his injury, Dzeko joined the squad in a bar, dancing and singing to celebrate the historic achievement. He later shared footage on Instagram, capturing the joyous atmosphere, and posted photos from Sarajevo where thousands of fans gathered in the streets, with the team celebrating atop a rooftop bus.
Reflecting on the match, Dzeko said, "I keep saying it must have been fate, for it to happen in the last second of the match, and then for me not to be able to take a penalty. Someone else stepped up instead of me, scored, and in the end we won. Who knows, maybe if I had taken it, I wouldn't have scored, so it all feels like it comes from above."
Injury Update and Recovery
On his arm injury, Dzeko added, "We're all relieved about the arm, it's not the worst case scenario. Most likely it won't need surgery. So I hope that in maybe a month, month and a half, I should be back." This positive outlook suggests he may recover in time for the World Cup.
World Cup Group and Italy's Disappointment
Bosnia has been placed in Group B for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland across venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Meanwhile, Italy's failure to qualify marks them as the first former champions to miss back-to-back tournaments, having also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The celebrations in Bosnia highlight the nation's passion for football, with this victory serving as a testament to their resilience and team spirit on the global stage.
