Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified via the UEFA play-offs and will be making their second ever World Cup appearance in 2026. The team, managed by Sergej Barbarez, boasts talented attacking players from Europe’s top leagues. The opening match against hosts Canada in Toronto will be a special moment for Bosnian football.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's goalkeepers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Coach Sergej Barbarez was the first of all 48 nations to name his full squad. In goal are Nikola Vasilj, Martin Zlomislić and Osman Hadžikić – three keepers who cover the entire spectrum from the Bundesliga to the Croatian-Bosnian regional league.
Vasilj, born in Mostar in 1995, is at the heart of this qualifying campaign. In the play-off final against Italy, he made the decisive save in the penalty shoot-out, sending Bosnia to only their second World Cup in the country’s history, whilst Italy failed to qualify for the third time in a row. It was a moment that transcended sport.
His journey to get there was a long one: via youth teams in his home country, the reserve team of 1. FC Nürnberg, Ukraine and the 2. Bundesliga, he worked his way up into German professional football. With St. Pauli, he celebrated promotion as second-division champions in 2024 – and proved himself a reliable stalwart in the following top-flight season despite his club’s difficult relegation battle. In the current 2025/26 Bundesliga season, he has made 27 appearances. His father Vladimir was the Bosnian-Croatian national goalkeeper and finished third at the 1998 World Cup – goalkeeping runs in the family.
Vasilj is not a showman in goal, but one who brings stability to the team: quick off his line, confident in command of his area, and mentally resilient under pressure. For Bosnia, he is more than just the number one – he is the symbol of this World Cup qualification campaign.
Nikola Vasilj football boots
Zlomislić, a 27-year-old from Posušje, has been playing for HNK Rijeka in the Croatian Prva HNL since 2021. He has made 15 league appearances this season and is Barbarez’s designated backup. With just two international caps to his name, he is still inexperienced at international level, but brings with him a solid track record of club football at the top level in South-Eastern Europe.
Martin Zlomislić goalkeeper gloves
Hadžikić, aged 30, is a Bosnian international with a history in Austria – he came through the youth ranks at Austria Vienna and played for the Austrian U19 and U21 teams, but ultimately opted to represent Bosnia. Today, he is the first-choice goalkeeper at Slaven Belupo in the Croatian HNL. He is the third-choice goalkeeper for the Zmajevi and an experienced backup behind Vasilj and Zlomislić.