Unbridled Bosnian joy marks World Cup qualifier win over Italy | World Cup 2026 News

Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica has witnessed the giant-killing ways of the Bosnian national football team for decades.

Branded a “cursed” venue for visiting teams, it has hosted the Dragons’ victories over formidable European opponents – Norway, Greece, Romania, Finland, Wales and Austria – in recent years, while football powerhouses Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Turkey have all been drawn here.

Bosnia enjoyed an unbeaten run at Dragons’ Nest between 1995 and 2006. Add to that the stadium’s compact nature, the closeness of fans, and it’s no wonder the players often say they feel at home here.

So, when thousands of Bosnian fans descended on the huge arena on Tuesday for the home team’s World Cup play-off final against Italy, it was with an unwavering faith in their team as well as the magic of the venue.

Italy’s storied footballing history, its four World Cup trophies and a brand of pre-match favorites did little to dampen the hopes of the home fans. And when Esmir Bajraktarevic drilled the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma to convert Bosnia’s fourth penalty and defeat against Italy in a dramatic shootout, pandemonium broke out in the Dragons’ Nest.

‘I’m from Bosnia, take me to America’

Fans started arriving in the early hours of the morning in Zenica – a city 70 kilometers (43 miles) north of the capital, Sarajevo – well ahead of the 20:45 (18:45 GMT) kick-off.

Wave upon wave of supporters, dressed in the team’s colors and flying the national flag, approached the venue from all parts of the country. Some even flew in from abroad to join in on what was promised to be a historic night.

Thousands of them could not even get near the turnstiles of the 10,000-capacity stadium and instead gathered at a nearby supporters’ zone. Others packed cafes and restaurants across the city to watch the game on big screens.

There was a strong belief among the fans that even if the stadium was 10 times bigger, it would still be full on a night of this magnitude.

Members of the popular Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv led fans through the streets of Zenica, singing the chorus of their hit song “USA”.

“I’m from Bosnia, take me to America” ​​is a perfect fit before the decisive game for a place in the World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

As kickoff approached, the spectators slowly settled into a familiar rhythm: Standing on their feet during the players’ warm-up routines, singing songs and chants that the national team carried in their most important games, and making enough noise to count as the 12th member of the team.

Bosnom Behar Probeharao (Blossoms Have Bloomed in Bosnia) – a nostalgic refrain that many Bosnians consider a symbol of love for their homeland – rang throughout the cauldron and beyond.

A historic bond, a special night

As the world weighed in on the Italian side’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup after missing out on the last two editions, Bosnia’s legendary captain Edin Dzeko reminded fans that their ties to the Azzurri run deeper than a battle on the pitch.

The 40-year-old striker, with one last shot at playing in the World Cup, asked Bosnian fans to applaud the Italian national anthem before kick-off.

It was a reference to the Italian football team’s visit to Sarajevo in 1996, following the Bosnian warwhen they played a friendly match that helped revive international football in the country.

Fans obliged, as they did 30 years ago, and the entire stadium stood up and applauded the Italian national anthem. But that’s where the goodies ended, and the mission to qualify for the North American World Cup began.

The heated and tense encounter ended 1-1 after extra time, forcing the match into a penalty shoot-out, where Bosnia emerged as the winners.

The crowd shouted, waved their flags, lit torches on the terraces and set off fireworks from nearby buildings – lighting up the sky above Zenica and signaling that the party would continue into the early hours of the morning. The players stayed on the field to share in the joy of the celebrating fans.

Once the stadium was empty, the party soon spilled out onto the streets.

Convoys of cars laden with fans, draped with the flag and blaring horns, turned Zenica into a giant stage, becoming the center of Bosnian celebrations.

‘I believed in the Dragons’

In Sarajevo, a few hours later, a reception was organized for the players and coaching staff, who were greeted by almost 100,000 fans, celebrating what many considered one of the biggest victories in the country’s history.

One frequently shared comment reads, “It’s not just a victory, it’s a reminder of who we are.”

Twelve years since their painful first-round exit on their World Cup debut, Bosnia have returned to the big time.

One of the most famous nights at the stadium came on 21 March 2013, when Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Greece in a qualifier, paving the way for the country’s historic first appearance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

For many fans, the play-off final against Italy carried similar emotions.

Dzevahid Mehicic, an elderly man from Zenica, said many people from his generation doubt they will live to see Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for the World Cup again.

“They thought that moment might never come again, but I believed the Dragons had the strength to defeat even a mighty Italy,” he told Al Jazeera after Bosnia’s victory.

For the younger supporters it was a unique experience of their own.

Wrapped in the national flag, 11-year-old fan Nihad Babovic said teenage forward Kerim Alajbegovic was his favorite player next to Dzeko.

“I can’t wait for the World Cup to start so I can watch the games with my dad.”

Zenica once again became the beating heart of Bosnia for one night as the city’s famous football stadium saw the past and the present come together in a moment of collective euphoria.