Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a vital 2-1 victory over Qatar in their World Cup 2026 group stage encounter on Wednesday, with veteran striker Edin Džeko and midfielder Miralem Pjanić scoring in the first half to put their side in control.
First Half Dominance
The Bosnians started brightly and took the lead in the 18th minute when Džeko latched onto a through ball from Pjanić and slotted past Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb. The goal was Džeko's 65th for his country, extending his record as Bosnia's all-time leading scorer.
Just before half-time, Pjanić doubled the advantage with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards that curled over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Al Sheeb with no chance. The goal was Pjanić's 18th international goal.
Qatar Fight Back
Qatar pulled one back in the 55th minute through Akram Afif, who volleyed home from close range after a corner was not cleared. The goal set up a tense final half-hour, but Bosnia held firm to claim all three points.
"We knew Qatar would be a tough opponent, but we executed our game plan perfectly in the first half," said Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez after the match. "The second half was about defending our lead, and the players showed great character."
Group Standings
The win moves Bosnia to three points in Group H, level with group leaders Spain, who beat Japan earlier in the day. Qatar remains on zero points after two matches and faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.
According to FIFA statistics, Bosnia had 52% possession and registered 10 shots on goal compared to Qatar's 7. The match was played in front of 42,000 spectators at the Lusail Stadium.
