🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 🇶🇦 Qatar

Bosnia are at their first World Cup since 2014, when they went out in the group stage in their debut tournament. They're back now with a squad that has more depth than 2014 and fewer expectations, which might actually be the better position.

Edin Džeko — their legendary striker, all-time top scorer, the player who defined Bosnian football for 15 years — has retired from international football. This squad has to prove it can perform without him. That's a significant bar to clear.

They're in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. A genuinely competitive group where any three teams could realistically advance. Bosnia have the quality to cause a surprise — this is not a foregone conclusion in any direction.

Bosnia produce ridiculously talented technical midfielders. Miralem Pjanić played for Juventus and Barcelona. The current generation has similar qualities. There's a creative thread running through Bosnian football that tends to produce players who are satisfying to watch.

The country's football governance is complicated by its political structure — three entities sharing oversight of the national team — but the team itself functions as a unified side on the pitch. The politics stay off the field.

Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup and went out in the group stage — the first host nation to be eliminated that early in history. It was embarrassing but also fairly predictable given they only qualified by virtue of hosting. This time they actually had to earn their place.

A genuine qualification campaign means this squad is more tested and battle-hardened than the 2022 version. Competitive Asian qualifying produces real pressure. They're a better team for it.

Qatar are in Group B with Canada, Bosnia and Switzerland — difficult, but not impossible. Getting out of the group would be a significant step forward for Qatari football credibility and something they'd very much like to achieve.

Qatar's football development has been backed by enormous investment over 20 years — the Aspire Academy has produced most of the current squad and the results are starting to show. The pathway exists; the question is how far it goes.

Akram Afif is their best player — technically gifted, plays domestically but has caused problems for stronger opposition in continental competition. He's the one player who could produce a moment worth talking about.