ZENICA, Bosnia & Herzegovina (WMTV) – A Wisconsin-born soccer star propelled Bosnia & Herzegovina into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a match-winning penalty shot.
21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević beat Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in a sudden death penalty shootout to send the Bosnians to the World Cup this summer.
The match ended on Tuesday in a 1-1 draw and after 30 minutes of extra time, the score remained the same.
Bajraktarević was born in Appleton. He represented the United States at the youth level and eventually made his senior team debut in a 2024 friendly against Slovenia. He then applied for a one-time switch of allegiance to Bosnia which was approved by FIFA.
His parents came to the United States as refugees from the Bosnian war and settled in Appleton. Per FIFA rules, players can qualify to play for countries other than their birth through either their parents or grandparents.
Bajraktarević played for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer to begin his professional career. He eventually joined Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in January of 2025.
Bosnia & Herzegovina will play in their first World Cup since 2014. The team failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022. They will play Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in the group stage.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America on June 11th.
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