Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar meet in their final Group B match in Seattle – both teams need a win to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Both teams have only one point from two games, and are coming off heavy defeats in the second round. Bosnia was beaten 4-1 by Switzerland, while Qatar had two men sent off when they were crushed 6-0 by co-host Canada.
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While a win won’t guarantee the winner a spot in the knockout stages, four points will likely be enough to secure one of the top eight third places. A draw is likely to send both teams home.
Team News Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tarik Muharemovic is suspended after the red card he received against Switzerland. Arjan Malic takes his place at centre-back, while Stjepan Radeljic replaces Amar Dedic at right-back.
Ivan Basic comes in for Benjamin Tahirovic in midfield, and Esmir Bajraktarevic starts on the right wing – Amar Memic drops out of the starting eleven.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s starting eleven (4-4-2): Vasilj – Malic, Radeljic, Katic, Kolasinac – Bajraktarevic, Basic, Sunjic, Alajbegovic – Demirovic, Dzeko
Team News Qatar
Homam Ahmed and Assim Madibo have been suspended for Qatar after the expulsions against Canada. Right-back Ayoub Al-Oui is also out of the team, as is striker Yusuf Abdurisag.
Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathy, Sultan Albrake and Hassan Alhaydos come into the starting eleven – the latter takes over the captain’s armband.
Qatar’s starting eleven (4-2-3-1): Abunada – Laye, Gaber, Khouki – Miguel, Boudiaf, Fathy, Albrake – Alhaydos, Afif, Edmilson
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Key figures for Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar
- Bosnia and Herzegovina have scored in all 12 matches since the start of qualifying. The loss to Switzerland is their only defeat in 10 games (two wins, seven draws, including friendlies) since a 2–1 loss at home to Austria in September 2025.
- Bosnia have lost one of their last 12 competitive matches (five wins, six draws) – having lost 12 of their previous 15 competitive matches (two wins, one draw).
- Edin Dzeko is the second-oldest outfield player ever in a World Cup final, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 years and 39 days old at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
- The former Manchester City striker is the country’s all-time winningest player with 144 caps and the all-time top scorer with 73 goals – scoring six times in qualifying.
- Sergei Barbarez did not win any of his first eight games in charge, but led the team through his first successful playoff qualification attempt for a championship – at the sixth attempt.
- Qatar finished last in their group on their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022 – losing all three games, conceding seven goals and scoring once.
- They had the top scorer and top assist in the AFC qualifiers (Almoez Ali with 12 goals, Akram Afif with 11 assists).
- Among teams that have played at least ten matches in the Asian World Cup qualifiers, Qatar’s matches had the highest goal average (3.61 per game). Of the Asian teams that reached the World Cup, Qatar lost the most games (five).
- Ali is Qatar’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals in 114 appearances, but has not scored since netting against Oman in December 2024.
- Julen Lopetegui is the second Spanish coach to lead Qatar in a World Cup final, after Felix Sanchez in 2022. The last six Qatari coaches have come from the Iberian Peninsula (four from Spain, two from Portugal).
