World Cup: Bosnia-Herzegovina beats Qatar 3-1 in Seattle

Bosnia-Herzegovina eliminated Qatar and boosted its chances of advancing at the World Cup with a 3-1 victory in a Group B match on Wednesday.

BY ANDREW DESTIN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jun 24, 2026, 2:21 PM Updated: 3:23 pm

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World Cup Seattle Bosnia Herzegovina Qatar Kerim Alajbegovic...

Kerim Alajbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina celebrates with Esmir Bajraktarevic after scoring against Qatar. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

(Stu Forster/Getty Images)

SEATTLE (AP) — Bosnia-Herzegovina eliminated Qatar and boosted its chances of advancing at the World Cup with a 3-1 victory in a Group B match on Wednesday.

Bosnia-Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1: Stats

With the victory, the third-place finishing Bosnia-Herzegovina is more than likely to advance to the Round of 32 in the expanded field. The eight best third-place finishers across the 12 groups advance.

Should Bosnia-Herzegovina advance to the knockout round, it would mark the first time in national team history at the World Cup. Bosnia-Herzegovina has played in only one other World Cup — 2014 in Brazil.

US likely to face Bosnia, and is lined up for Seattle return

Kerim Alajbegovic scored in the 29th minute to give Bosnia-Herzegovina a lead it would never relinquish. The 18-year-old Alajbegovic became the eighth-youngest scorer in World Cup history when he powered a shot past Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada at the near post from 20 yards away.

Alajbegović BANGER 🇧🇦

What a solo goal to put his side in front first! pic.twitter.com/N95ApKvdQd

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2026

Bosnia-Herzegovina tacked on a second goal in the 34th minute when Sead Kolasinac launched a cross to the back post. A volley to the middle by Edin Dzeko deflected off Qatar’s Sultan Al-Brake for an own goal.

Edin Džeko with the volley to force the Qatar OWN GOAL 🇧🇦

Bosnia and Herzegovina lead 2-0! pic.twitter.com/ALlTTz2912

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2026

Hassan Al Haydos kept Qatar, which did not win a game in the tournament, competitive with a goal in the 42nd minute. But in the second half, Bosnia-Herzegovina once again went up by two goals when Ermin Mahmic, who scored in a 4-1 loss to Switzerland, tallied another in the 80th minute.

Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates with their fans in Seattle after securing 3rd place in Group B with the win 🇧🇦 pic.twitter.com/W1McUclBHl

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2026