FIFA World

Cup 2026

Bosnia are out to spoil the USMNT’s World Cup party. Kerim Alajbegovic could be the man to do it

Kerim Alajbegovic scored a sensational goal against Qatar Dirk Waem/Belga Mag/AFP via Getty Images

The meet is at 9am on the Salish Steps, which descend from Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. Bosnians, however, started arriving two hours earlier, and why not? The setting offers views across Elliott Bay, where ferries churn slowly across the water, bringing commuters in from islands like Bainbridge and towns like Bremerton. Beyond, you can see Mount Rainier, the highest peak in the state of Washington. “It’s freakin’ perfect,” says a Bosnian with an American accent, having driven all the way here from Chicago.

The Bosnians are impressively organised. The night before had not long finished. Not far away in Belltown, a space had been rented out on 1st Avenue. The event was so popular that the crowd spilled into the place next door, and in a restaurant called Amber, the sound system was commandeered. One of the folky Bosnian pop songs included the line, “It’s nice to come back home”, and in the miasma of strong cigarette smoke and irresistible Balkan-strength pride, Seattle could have been Sarajevo.

Back at the steps the next morning, thousands are present and more are on their way. The BH Fanatics, which describes itself as “The Bosnian Support Army”, march through the heavy crowd in two lines, with each member placing their hands on the shoulder of the person in front of them. It feels like they are here on business because they are not paying attention to the vista. Just in front of Seattle’s aquarium, they halt suddenly, and, inspired by a leader with a megaphone, the ensuing chant makes them seem even more like an invading force. For some, it might be intimidating, but it is visually very powerful and altogether impressive.

The walk to the stadium is a mile or so along the Alaskan Way, where restaurants like the Crab Pot are opening up, but everyone is gawking at the street spectacle. One of the best things about this tournament is seeing locals stare and comment at the wonder of visiting supporters demonstrating their love of home.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s domestic population of 3.1 million is roughly equal to its diaspora, and around 7,000 have settled in Seattle neighborhoods like Tukwila, Kent, and Lynwood. Yet this scene involved many more, with an estimated 30,000 Bosnians trying to make their way to Lumen Field. where they took over the seating at the venue’s Hawks Nest, which was shaking after 30 seconds of their game with Qatar.

The winner would go through, and Bosnia knew if they progressed, they were almost certain to play the United States in the round of 32. Amid such an example of national fervour and jeopardy, the pressure was enormous. For so many years, Bosnia have looked to Edin Dzeko to provide the required magic under these conditions but he is 40 now, having just finished a season in the German second tier with Schalke.

There were plenty of Dzeko 11 shirts in the crowd, but it is good for Bosnian football that he has competition. Given so many Bosnian-Americans were knocking around, it is unsurprising that the 21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic is popular: he was born in Wisconsin but switched to his parents’ country after representing the United States in a friendly match.

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Bajraktarevic looks to be a fine talent, but the ceiling for Kerim Alajbegovic, only 18, might be even higher. It takes a lot for a kid to show up on these occasions, but Alajbegovic, born in Cologne, Germany, was not fazed at all. Victory would represent Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second appearance as an independent nation at the World Cup, and Alajbegovic helped deliver it by becoming the youngest player on record (since 1966) to score a goal in the competition from outside the box, surpassing Kylian Mbappe by a year and 69 days following his strike against Croatia in the 2018 final.

It is hard to imagine a better individual goal at this World Cup, as Alajbegovic was blocked by three Qatari defenders when he received the ball, only to deceive each of them before swerving past another. Mahmud Abunada had already suggested he was not going to be easy to beat from distance with two early saves, but Alajbegovic did not care, and in the celebrations, his team-mates attempted to hold him aloft like he was a champion.

What You Should Read Next Bosnia take huge step towards USMNT knockout tie, Qatar out. Was this Alajbegovic’s breakout moment? Bosnia get the win they need - and it looks like they will face the USMNT in San Francisco in the World Cup last 32

Perhaps the most relieved person was back in Germany because in March, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes triggered a buy-back clause to close his return after a season with Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored 11 goals in 35 appearances. “He has exceeded our expectations in a very short space of time,” Rolfes admitted.

It was not just his attacking threat. While Alajbegovic completed the most dribbles (six) of any player on the pitch and earned the most fouls (four) in this 3-1 win, he also contested the most duels (17) and won more of them than anyone else (10). Clearly, he does not mind a bit of the rough stuff, and this has helped him identify with Bosnian supporters, who tend to enjoy seeing players get mud on their boots and bruises on their legs.

What You Should Read Next Above Bosnia matches, the sky will burn. Their fans’ fire is love, not anger As part of a special World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to fans of all 48 competing nations to capture their unique football culture

Alajbegovic was unaware he had surpassed Mbappe in the record books and tried to deflect the questions aimed at him afterward back to the achievements of the team he represents. If they are to have a chance of beating the U.S., Alajbegovic will surely have to perform even better than he did in Seattle.

But sometimes, it is too easy to move on from the significance of a moment.

At the final whistle, Bosnia’s goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj took himself away from the celebrations. “I wanted to stop, and to be aware of what was happening,” he said. “It was really amazing. There were so many of our fans. It felt like family.”

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