Bosnia-Herzegovina continue their push for a spot at the 2026 World Cup this Saturday when they host Group H underdogs San Marino in Zenica. After a strong start to qualifying, the Dragons will see this as a prime opportunity to stretch their lead at the top — and boost their goal difference in the process.
San Marino, meanwhile, head into this one knowing their task is more about damage control than giant-killing.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Turning the Tide Under Barbarez
It’s been a bumpy ride for Sergej Barbarez since taking charge, but things finally seem to be clicking. His team made a statement in March with consecutive wins — a gritty away victory in Romania followed by a more controlled home performance against Cyprus.
That six-point haul has given Bosnia a strong platform in Group H, especially with only the group winners guaranteed a spot at the World Cup. With Austria now entering the fray after Nations League commitments, Bosnia know every point — and every goal — matters.
Barbarez’s early tenure was rocky, losing six of his first eight matches, but confidence has returned. Now facing San Marino twice in quick succession (either side of a friendly with Slovenia), Bosnia have a chance to build real momentum and possibly pull away from the pack.
San Marino: Reality Check After Rare Highs
San Marino may still be celebrating their promotion from the Nations League’s bottom tier last year, but the step up to World Cup qualifying has been a harsh reminder of where they stand.
Their campaign opened with a narrow 2-1 loss to Cyprus, followed by a bruising 5-0 defeat at the hands of Romania. For a side that just notched its first-ever competitive wins in 2024, those results have brought expectations crashing back down.
That said, Roberto Cevoli’s squad isn’t without ambition. Thanks to the revamped qualification structure, there’s still a faint playoff path through the Nations League, regardless of their group finish. But realistically, a point or two — or even just a competitive showing — would be cause for celebration.
San Marino haven’t won a single Euro or World Cup qualifier in 164 attempts. Their last draw came 11 years ago. To say they’ll have their backs to the wall in Zenica would be an understatement.
Team News and Lineups
Bosnia will once again be led by their iconic captain Edin Dzeko, who’s set to earn his 141st cap this weekend. The 38-year-old continues to lead the line with typical authority and will be key once again in unlocking a packed San Marino defense.
However, the Dragons are without a few regulars. Sead Kolasinac remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury, while Rade Krunic and Anel Ahmedhodzic are also missing — the latter stepping back from international duty for personal reasons.
Amar Dedic and Nail Omerovic are in contention to fill the left-back role, while the midfield will look to build around the energy of Tahirovic and the creativity of Hajradinovic.
San Marino’s hopes lie largely with Nicola Nanni, who was pivotal during their Nations League run. Teen forward Nicko Sensoli — the hero against Liechtenstein — is another attacking option, while Sassuolo U-19 twins Tommaso and Giacomo Benvenuti are expected to feature again.
Veteran forward Matteo Vitaioli has not been included in the squad.
Predicted Lineups
Bosnia-Herzegovina:
Vasilj; Malic, Barisic, Radeljic, Omerovic; Sunjic, Tahirovic; Hajradinovic, Gigovic, Dedic; Dzeko
San Marino:
Amici; G. Benvenuti, Cevoli, T. Benvenuti, Tosi; Contadini, A. Golinucci, Capicchioni, Zannoni, Berardi; Nanni
Form Guide
Bosnia-Herzegovina enter this match in mixed form, having won just two of their last six matches across all competitions. Their recent performances have included a narrow 2-1 win over Iceland and a crucial 1-0 victory against Liechtenstein, but they’ve also suffered defeats to Portugal, Luxembourg, and Slovakia. Despite these setbacks, they’ve generally performed better at home and will be confident facing a side like San Marino.
San Marino, meanwhile, continue to struggle on the international stage. They remain winless in their last six games, losing all six while failing to score in five of them. The team has conceded heavily, including a 4-0 loss to Finland and a 6-0 defeat to Denmark. With one of the poorest records in European football, San Marino will once again be massive underdogs.
Key Stat
San Marino have never won a single qualifier in their history — that’s 164 matches across World Cup and Euro campaigns. Bosnia, meanwhile, won both previous meetings between the nations en route to the 2006 World Cup with an aggregate score of 6-1.
Kickoff
Saturday, June 15 | 20:45 CET | Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica
We Say: Bosnia-Herzegovina 5–0 San Marino
This fixture is as close to a guaranteed three points as it gets for Bosnia. Expect a confident display, goals from Dzeko and company, and another frustrating evening for San Marino, who may spend most of the night chasing shadows.
The gulf in class is significant — and Bosnia will know this is a golden opportunity to not just win, but win big.