Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a dramatic victory over Wales in a World Cup play-off semi-final that ended 1-1 after extra time, with the hosts prevailing in the penalty shootout. Dan James scored for Wales with a 25-yard strike in the 51st minute, but Edin Dzeko, the 40-year-old veteran striker and Bosnia captain, equalized for the home side. The match went to penalties, where Brennan Johnson missed a penalty and Neco Williams had his saved for Wales, according to multiple reports. Bosnia's win sends them to a play-off final against Italy, with the winner earning a place at the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Italy booked their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in their semi-final. The winner of the Bosnia-Italy match on March 31 will secure a World Cup spot, as the winner of the semi-final would face either Italy or Northern Ireland on that date for a World Cup spot, according to reports.
It has been some nerve-wracking days. It was a big disappointment last time (in the World Cup qualifiers), but the job is not finished yet.
Bosnian fans celebrated the victory extensively, with reports indicating that 100,000 people celebrated with the team in the capital Sarajevo in the middle of the night. Team captain Edin Dzeko posted clips from the victory celebration late into the night. However, Bosnian fans also accused Italy of disrespect and arrogance for celebrating Bosnia's win over Wales, according to reports.
For Wales, the defeat marks another painful penalty shootout exit, having missed out on a second successive major tournament on penalties. Wales qualified for the 2022 World Cup through play-off wins over Austria and Ukraine, but this loss continues a pattern of narrow misses. Wales' play-off defeat to Bosnia occurred exactly two years after a penalty shootout loss to Poland in a Euro 2024 play-off. The team's lack of squad depth was exposed during the World Cup qualifying campaign, according to multiple reports. Wales' preparations were further hampered by injuries to Ben Davies, Kieffer Moore, and Chris Mepham, according to reports.
Ervin Gigović's goal is to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team.
Wales have approached Ashley Phillips about switching allegiance from England to address depth issues, according to reports. In the aftermath, Wales will host Northern Ireland in a friendly on Tuesday, a match required after both lost their play-off semi-finals.
Craig Bellamy, the head coach of Wales appointed in July 2024 on a four-year contract, leads the team with an intense and attacking management style that sometimes left Wales exposed defensively, according to multiple reports. Bellamy is obsessed with football and works extensively, including watching hours of analysis and training sessions. Bellamy has expressed a desire to lead Wales at Euro 2028, which Wales will co-host, and he works at Dragon Park, Wales' national development centre in Newport, because it is a 'football place', as stated by Bellamy himself.
Ervin and his mother watched the match against Italy at home, while his father was with Armin.
Before the match against Bosnia, Bellamy warned Wales about the threat of Edin Dzeko, whose link-up play and game intelligence remain high, according to reports. Bellamy outlined a strategy to keep Bosnia away from Wales' box to neutralize Dzeko, but the veteran striker, who played for Manchester City and currently plays for Schalke in Bundesliga 2, proved decisive.
Bosnia's squad included the Swedish-born duo Benjamin Tahirović and Armin Gigović, with Armin Gigović coming on as a substitute in extra time against Wales. Armin Gigović, Ervin's older brother, made it to the World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ervin Gigović described his goal as playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team, and he watched the playoff matches at home in Landskrona while his father was with Armin. There was also celebration at the Gigović home, and Ervin Gigović feels motivated by his brother's achievement and is ready to accept a call-up to the national team, according to reports.
Armin texted 'goodnight' to Ervin at 07:15 after the celebrations.
In other World Cup play-off action, the Republic of Ireland lost their semi-final to the Czech Republic in a penalty shootout after conceding an 86th-minute equalizer, according to multiple reports. Denmark's fate will be decided in an away playoff match against the Czech Republic after a 4-0 home win against North Macedonia, where Gustav Isaksen scored two goals, as confirmed by official sources. Turkey beat Romania 1-0 in Istanbul. Romania's 80-year-old coach Mircea Lucescu, a player in the 1970 World Cup team, will not lead the team in what would have been his first World Cup. Bolivia beat Surinam 2-1 in Monterrey, Mexico, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino present to see the stadium that will host four matches in this summer's World Cup finals.
The exact financial or logistical impacts on Bosnia and Herzegovina's football federation and national team after qualifying for the World Cup remain uncertain. Looking ahead, Bosnia faces Italy in a high-stakes final, while Wales regroups for a friendly and longer-term rebuilding under Bellamy's leadership.
Ervin Gigović feels motivated by his brother's achievement and is ready to accept a call-up to the national team.