As the United States prepares to co-host this summer’s FIFA men’s World Cup, U.S. national team boss Mauricio Pochettino is poised to announce his final roster: the big reveal is set for Tuesday, May 26, in a special event held in New York City.

For PSV Eindhoven winger Esmir Bajraktarevic, who made his USMNT debut two years ago, there is no suspense over his World Cup involvement, however. He already knows he’s going to the tournament.

That’s because the Wisconsin native, dubbed the ‘Milwaukee Messi’, is now part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina team that’s gearing up for its second ever World Cup appearance. Bajraktarevic was confirmed on Sergej Barbarez’s 26-man roster on May 11, six weeks after scoring the penalty that clinched the Bosnians’ ticket to the finals.

From the USMNT to Bosnia: Bajraktarevic’s World Cup path

Born to Bosnian parents in Appleton, a town of 75,000 in eastern Wisconsin, Bajraktarevic began his international career in the U.S.’s youth teams, rising up the ranks until he graduated to the Americans’ senior side in January 2024. Called up by then-boss Gregg Berhalter, Bajraktarevic appeared as a substitute in a San Antonio friendly against Slovenia. It would be his only cap for the USMNT.

Even though he had donned the Stars and Stripes in Texas, FIFA rules still allowed him to switch to the country of his mother and father - and just months after making his U.S. bow, he chose to do exactly that.

In August 2024, world soccer’s governing body approved the 21-year-old’s request to change his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina. A month later, he made his first appearance for the Dragons, coming on in the second half of a UEFA Nations League matchup with the Netherlands.

And it was a debut to remember: five minutes after his introduction at PSV’s Philips Stadion, Bajraktarevic laid on a pinpoint assist for his childhood idol, the legendary Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, to score.

Since then, Bajraktarevic has collected 14 caps for the Balkan nation, establishing himself as a fixture in a Barbarez’s lineup. He has started Bosnia and Herzegovina’s last five games - most notably, March’s dramatic World Cup qualifying playoff final against Italy.

“One of the best feelings I’ve ever had”

At Zenica’s Bilino Polje stadium, the hosts condemned the Italians to a third straight World Cup absence by triumphing 4-1 in a penalty shootout, with Bajraktarevic emerging as the hero. After misses by Italy’s Francesco Esposito and Bryan Christine, it was the winger’s spot-kick - a somewhat scuffed effort, it must be said - that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to seal Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first World Cup spot since 2014.

“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” Bajraktarevic told Fox Sports’ Laken Litman this month. “It was like a dream come true. It sounds [cheesy], but that’s the only way I can explain it.”

“I just feel Bosnian”

Deep down, Bajraktarevic says, he never had any doubts that he wanted to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina - a country his parents fled amid the Bosnian War in the 1990s, before settling in the U.S. in 2001.

“It’s just very proud for me every time I play for Bosnia,” he told ESPN in February. “It’s a different feeling. It’s where my parents come from and it’s what I always thought of myself as - as a Bosnian. It’s the best feeling.”

Bajraktarevic added: “In heart I always knew since I was little that it was going to be Bosnia at the end of the day. There’s videos of me wearing Edin Dzeko’s jerseys growing up. He was my favorite player growing up, and it’s just something you dream of.

“Obviously living in a Bosnian household, as well. Everything I ate was Bosnian food and I listened to Bosnian music. I speak Bosnian with my parents and I just feel Bosnian.”

Bajraktarevic, who joined PSV from New England Revolution in January 2025, heads into the World Cup buoyed by a club campaign that saw Eindhoven romp to a third successive Dutch title. In his first full season in the Netherlands, the youngster registered four goals and five assists in 28 Eredivisie appearances, as PSV finished 19 points clear of second-placed Feyenoord.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup group-stage schedule:

• June 12, 3:00 p.m. ET: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, BMO Field, Toronto
• June 18, 3:00 p.m. ET: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
• June 24, 3:00 p.m. ET: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar, Lumen Field, Seattle

Bosnia’s 26-man World Cup roster:

• Goalkeepers: Osman Hadzikic, Nikola Vasilj, Martin Zlomislic
• Defenders: Nidal Celik, Amar Dedic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Nikola Katic, Sead Kolasinac, Tarik Muharemovic, Nihad Mujakic, Stjepan Radeljic
• Midfielders: Kerim Alajbegovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ivan Basic, Dzenis Burnic, Armina Gigovic, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Ermin Mahmic, Amar Memic, Ivan Sunjic, Benjamin Tahirovic
• Forwards: Samed Bazdar, Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko, Jovo Lukic, Haris Tabakovic

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