Bosnia and Herzegovina became the first nation among the 48 qualified teams to announce their 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup. The Bosnian Football Association made the announcement on May 11, exactly one month before the tournament’s kickoff on June 11. But it was their special squad announcement video that quickly captured global attention.
Located in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula, Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the former Yugoslavia. After qualifying through the European playoffs—defeating Wales and Italy—they secured their second-ever World Cup appearance, the first since the 2014 Brazil tournament.
The announced squad includes veterans and stars playing across Europe’s top leagues. Among them are 40-year-old forward Edin Džeko (Schalke), who has previously played for Wolfsburg, Manchester City, and AS Roma, as well as defender Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta), midfielder Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City), and forward Ermedin Demirović (Stuttgart).
However, the players themselves do not appear in the squad announcement video. Instead, the 1-minute-42-second film—opening with aerial shots of the Bosnian flag flying on a mountaintop and the country’s beautiful landscapes—features the families, friends, and children from the academies of the players’ childhood clubs. Each name is read aloud by these loved ones, creating a deeply personal and emotional tribute.
This heartwarming and unique approach has drawn widespread reaction from Japanese fans, with comments including:
In the tournament, Bosnia and Herzegovina have been placed in Group B, where they will face Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar. With the World Cup approaching, fans worldwide are now curious how the remaining 47 nations—including Japan—will announce their squads.