Wisconsin native sends Bosnia and Herzegovina to World Cup

Esmir Bajraktarevic's penalty kick against Italy secures World Cup berth for his family's homeland.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:19am

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Esmir Bajraktarevic, a 21-year-old soccer player from Appleton, Wisconsin, scored the decisive penalty kick to send Bosnia and Herzegovina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Italy in a dramatic shootout. Bajraktarevic, who has played for the U.S. youth national teams, chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country of his family's heritage.

Why it matters

Bajraktarevic's achievement is a heartwarming story of a young athlete representing his family's homeland on the global stage of the World Cup, a dream come true for both him and the Bosnian national team. His decision to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina over the U.S. also highlights the complex identity issues faced by children of immigrant families.

The details

The match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a penalty kick shootout. After Italy missed their third attempt, Bajraktarevic stepped up and scored the decisive penalty with a no-look shot past Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, sending Bosnia and Herzegovina to their second World Cup appearance.

  • The match took place on March 31, 2026.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina will face co-host Canada in the World Cup opener on June 12, 2026 in Toronto.

The players

Esmir Bajraktarevic

A 21-year-old soccer player from Appleton, Wisconsin who was born to Bosnian refugee parents. He has played for the U.S. youth national teams but chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country of his family's heritage.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

The Italian national team goalkeeper who was unable to stop Bajraktarevic's decisive penalty kick.

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What they’re saying

“The decision (to play for Bosnia) for me was very easy. It was something I knew I wanted to do since I was little. It was just a process that took a while. I'm very happy I made it. There's no feeling like representing your country.”

— Esmir Bajraktarevic

“I'm very proud of where I'm from. It means a lot to me. It's how I was raised. I was raised in a Bosnian culture, so it's everything.”

— Esmir Bajraktarevic

What’s next

Bosnia and Herzegovina will face co-host Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B of the 2026 World Cup. Their opening match against Canada is scheduled for June 12, 2026 in Toronto.

The takeaway

Esmir Bajraktarevic's dramatic penalty kick to send Bosnia and Herzegovina to the World Cup is a powerful story of identity, heritage, and the realization of a lifelong dream. His decision to represent his family's homeland over the country of his birth highlights the complex choices faced by children of immigrant families, and his achievement will inspire young athletes around the world.