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Bajraktarević is one of the most famous Bosnian talents
The star of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, Esmir Bajraktarević, has a unique human story ahead of the confrontation with the USA in the 32nd round of the 2026 World Cup.
He was born in the US state of Wisconsin to Bosnian parents who survived the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed, including 4 of his uncles and his paternal grandfather.
Although he represented the United States national team in a friendly match, in January 2024, Bajraktarević (age 21) later decided to switch his international allegiance to the Bosnia national team, stressing that representing his parents’ country was his choice from the start.
The Dutch PSV Eindhoven player said. “Every time I play, I represent my family,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “Athletic”.
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The player attracted attention after he scored the decisive penalty that beat Italy and gave Bosnia a 2026 World Cup qualification card, before he celebrated by lifting his family name on his shirt in a symbolic gesture of honoring his roots and his family’s heritage.
Bajraktarevic grew up in Wisconsin, USA, and starred at the New England Revolution Academy before breaking through to the first team. He then moved to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in early 2025 in a deal worth around $6 million.
Bajraktarević now prepares for a special showdown against the United States, the country where he was born and was once represented internationally, in an attempt to take Bosnia to the last 16 of the World Cup, while many see his story as a triumph of life against the tragedies of war and the transformation of his family’s suffering into a source of inspiration for a new generation.
