RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing for a crucial knockout-stage clash against the United States after marking a memorable return to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. The 2026 tournament is only the second World Cup appearance in the nation's history, following its debut in Brazil in 2014, and it’s already surpassed expectations by advancing beyond the group stage.

According to the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Indonesia, Armin Limo, reaching the World Cup again is already a major achievement for the country. On Voice of Indonesia's World Cup program, Deep Talk Soccer Fiesta! he expressed hope that this generation of players would improve on the team's 2014 campaign, when Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to progress from the group stage.

The ambassador credited head coach, Sergej Barbarez for building a competitive squad by blending experienced veterans with promising young talents. While captain Edin Džeko remains the team's biggest star, Barbarez has assembled a cohesive unit despite many players being relatively unknown on the international stage.

Džeko continues to lead the national team by example after more than a decade of service. Limo described the veteran striker as one of the greatest footballers in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history, saying his leadership has been invaluable in guiding younger teammates.

Among the emerging talents, Limo highlighted 18-year-old Kerim Alibegović as one of the country's brightest prospects. The teenager announced himself by calmly converting the decisive penalty in Bosnia and Herzegovina's playoff victory over Wales, helping secure the nation's long-awaited return to the World Cup.

Bosnia and Herzegovina earned its place in the tournament through dramatic qualifying victories over Wales and Italy, with Limo acknowledging that resilience and a bit of luck played key roles. He recalled Edin Džeko's late equalizer against Wales before it eventually triumphed in the penalty shootout, describing the campaign as a reward after several previous near misses.

The Dragons reached the knockout stage after finishing third in Group C with four points. Bosnia and Herzegovina will face the United States in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for a place in the last 16.