In the run-up to the USMNT’s Round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 World Cup, you’ll no doubt have seen the United States’ European opponents referred to as just “Bosnia” on countless occasions. Even Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv, who penned the viral World Cup tune “I Am from Bosnia, Take Me to America,” opted for the country’s shorter name. But what about poor old Herzegovina?

How Bosnia and Herzegovina got its name

Part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent country in 1992. That was followed by the three-and-a-half-year Bosnian War, which was primarily fought along three main ethnic and political lines: the Bosniaks (Muslims), the Serbs (Orthodox), and the Croats (Catholics).

In December 1995, the warring parties signed the Dayton Accords, preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single state divided into two highly autonomous entities: the Bosniak-Croat Federation and Republika Srpska.

In terms of geography, Bosnia and Herzegovina is split into two areas, one called Bosnia and the other Herzegovina, as you might have guessed.

Bosnia is the northern part of the country and makes up approximately 80% of its land area, although there is no officially defined administrative border between the two regions. Sarajevo, the capital, is located in Bosnia, but sits just north of where Herzegovina roughly begins.

Where does Herzegovina begin?

Herzegovina is unofficially considered the area south of Ivan planina, a mountain that roughly marks the divide between the two regions. This southern part of the country is known for its medieval villages and vineyards.

The two regions also experience different climates. Bosnia has a moderate to cold continental climate with heavy winter snowfall. Herzegovina, on the other hand, enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

Despite the two regions literally forming Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country is regularly referred to as simply “Bosnia” in informal and unofficial contexts. That’s mainly because the nation’s full name is so long, Bosnia comes first, and it is by far the larger of the two regions.

In official, legal, and international diplomatic use, Bosnia and Herzegovina is always given its full name. FIFA refers to the national team that way, although don’t be surprised to hear commentators, analysts, journalists, and just about everyone else simply say “Bosnia.”

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