It’s not every day an American-born player sends his European country to the FIFA World Cup.
But that’s what happened on Tuesday in the Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy UEFA World Cup qualifying match, with the winner getting to advance to North America and the loser going out empty-handed.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite playing at home, entered as a major underdog to advance given the roster quality difference to the Italians. But the Dragons had one key factor at their disposal. Italy had previous failed qualifications on its mind entering this game.
Despite going down early, an Italy red card just before halftime allowed for a Bosnian surge throughout the second half. The equalizing goal came from Haris Tabakovic in the 79th minute, eventually leading to a penalty shootout after 30 minutes of extra time.
Stunningly, Bosnia and Herzegovina took a 3-1 lead in the shootout thanks to misses from young Italian striker Pio Esposito and veteran midfielder Bryan Cristante.
The next kick would win it if it was converted. So, who stepped up to deliver? Not a veteran. Not someone internationally known. It was Esmir Bajraktarević. For the biggest moment of his life, so far.
The 21-year-old winger saw his effort just bounce past Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the back of the net, knocking out four-time World Cup champions Italy in the process.
Elvis BARUKCIC / AFP via Getty Images
Elvis BARUKCIC / AFP via Getty Images
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s forward #20 Esmir Bajraktarevic holds his jersey after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification final football match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy at the Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica on March 31, 2026.
The story is relevant to the U.S. for good and bad reasons.
Bajraktarević was born in Appleton, Wisc., a city just outside the top five in terms of population in the state. He had stints with the indoor soccer team SC Wave, based in Minnesota, as well as a one-year run with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire‘s youth academy in 2019-20.
He eventually moved to the New England Revolution in 2021, where his current trajectory started. He competed with the club’s MLS Next Pro team from 2021 to 2023, with some time with the senior team sprinkled in between.
Bajraktarević became a prominent squad player in 2024 and 2025, standing out as a left-footed right winger who wasn’t shy of taking on defenders while offering creativity and flair on the right flank.
This past summer, he earned a move to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, who have built a solid reputation for developing the sport’s next key talents. The deal was worth three million euros, according to Transfermarkt.
He has two goals and one assist in 23 league appearances thus far, and he could’ve had the chance to play for the U.S. men’s national team.
The 5-foot-9 winger played in the nation’s youth setup from 2022 to 2024 before deciding in the summer of 2024 that he’d represent Bosnia and Herzegovina for the future, leading FIFA to approve his sports citizenship switch.
Bajraktarević’s parents fled the war that started in the country in 1992, and arrived in the U.S. in 2001 as part of a refugee program.
“The decision for me was very easy,” he told The Blazing Musket in 2024. “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.
“…The youth teams, obviously I had really good experiences there and everything, but yeah, for me, it was no question.”
It’s still early in his career, but Bajraktarević represents the exact profile the USMNT have lacked for years: A left-footed right winger who can play inverted to a respectable level, which would allow Christian Pulisic to stay on the left flank.
But the USMNT’s loss is Bosnia’s gain, one that has created a butterfly effect strong enough to propel them to the sport’s grandest tournament for just the second time in its history (first since 2014).
And Chicago and New England will forever have chapters in Bajraktarević’s story.
The second-place team will receive $33 million and the third and fourth place teams will earn $29M and $27M respectively.