Bosnia and Herzegovina at the FIFA World Cup

Bosnia and Herzegovina appeared for the first time in a FIFA World Cup at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,^[1][2] which remains the only time the team participated at a major international tournament to date since they have yet to qualify for the Euros.

While Serbia is recognised by FIFA as the official successor of Yugoslavia, Bosnian players have played a role in World Cup history before their countries' independence in 1992.

Yugoslavia participated in the World Cup eight times between 1930 and 1990. While in the early editions they were mainly represented by Serbian players, the squads grew more inclusive over time. A notable appearance of a Bosnian player at a FIFA World Cup was in 1962, when striker Arman Spahić broke an opponent's leg in a brutal foul. Although he was not carded by the referee, he was sent home by his own federation and was never called up for an international match again.

Several Bosnian players were part of the 1974 first team line-up that advanced from the group stage unbeaten and ahead of Brazil. Striker Dušan Bajević scored three goals in one of the highest World Cup victories of all time: Yugoslavia's 9–0 against Zaire. Defender Josip Katalinski also scored during this game. Other Bosnians from that years' team include goalkeeper Enver Marić and defender Enver Hadžiabdić.

Playmaker Safet Sušić, often considered to be the best Bosnian Muslim player of all time, represented Yugoslavia at the World Cup in both 1982 and 1990. The team that reached the quarter-finals in 1990 was captained by Zlatko Vujović, a player of Bosnian Croat heritage.

After Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence from Yugoslavia on 1 March 1992, the national football team was soon formed but could not enter qualifying for the 1994 World Cup as the national association was not yet a member of FIFA. During qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup, Bosnia's first home match against Croatia was played in Bologna.^[3] The match was held at the neutral venue due to the renovation of the Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium in Sarajevo.

Bosnia finished in third place during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, recording two draws with Spain along the way. During qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup Bosnia reached its first ever playoffs for a major tournament, where they eventually lost 2–0 on aggregate to Portugal.

The 2014 World Cup was the first time Bosnia appeared at a major tournament as an independent nation, having qualified by topping UEFA Group G.

FIFA World Cup record											FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Position
1930 to 1990	Part of  Yugoslavia										Part of  Yugoslavia
as Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina											as Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
1994	Could not enter										Could not enter
1998	Did not qualify										8	3	0	5	9	14	4/5
as Bosnia and Herzegovina											as Bosnia and Herzegovina
2002	Did not qualify										8	2	2	4	12	12	4/5
2006											10	4	4	2	12	9	3/6
2010											12	6	1	5	25	15	2/6 Lost Playoff
2014	Group stage	20th	3	1	0	2	4	4	Squad		10	8	1	1	30	6	1/6
2018	Did not qualify										10	5	2	3	24	13	3/6
2022											8	1	4	3	9	12	4/5
2026	To be determined										8	5	2	1	17	7	2/5
2030											To be determined
2034
Total	Group stage	1/11	3	1	0	2	4	4	—		72	34	16	24	138	88	—

World Cup	Round	Opponent	Score	Result	Venue	Scorers
2014	Group F	Argentina	1–2	L	Rio de Janeiro	Ibišević
		Nigeria	0–1	L	Cuiabá
		Iran	3–1	W	Salvador	Džeko, Pjanić, Vršajević

Six players were fielded in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina's matches at the 2014 World Cup, making them record players for their country.

Four players scored one goal each for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In addition, an own goal was scored by left-back Sead Kolašinac in their match against Argentina, which holds the record for fastest own goal at a FIFA World Cup at two minutes and six seconds.

• Serbia at the FIFA World Cup (records for Yugoslavia)

• Bosnia at FIFA