Bosnia win 3-2, knock out Qatar to keep alive hopes of World Cup round of 32

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkBosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada twice inside the first four minutes. [Lindsey Wasson/AP]By AFPPublished On 24 Jun 202624 Jun 2026Bosnia-Herzegovina are on the verge of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time after beating 2022 hosts Qatar 3-1 in their final Group B match.Bosnia move on to four points and are in a strong position to be one of the best eight third-placed teams to progress to the last 32.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Paraguay’s Almiron handed one-match suspension for covering mouthlist 2 of 4World Cup: Top 10 takeaways from the second round of the group stagelist 3 of 4Is the World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race the best ever?list 4 of 4World Cup 2026: Full group schedule and top third-round matches to watchend of listQatar, meanwhile, exit at the group stage, just as they did four years ago.Goals from Bosnia’s youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the European side in the box seat.However, Qatar made a game of it when 35-year-old Hassan al-Haydos, their most capped player, pulled one back late in the first half.Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond the Qataris when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute.Bosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the first four minutes.First, Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic’s fierce drive, and then he tipped away Ivan Sunjic’s shot.Bosnia’s dominance finally paid off, but it was not to be 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the deadlock, but the sublimely talented teenage left wing.Edin Dzeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina (R) and his teammates celebrate the second goal [Stephen Buddhist/EPA]Abunada was unable to do anything about Alajbegovic’s screamer from outside the area, after he had beaten two players.The youngster was mobbed by his team-mates, and once they had trotted back to the halfway line, he stood and milked the moment, putting a finger to his lips.Dzeko, winning his 150th cap, came more and more into the game, and not wishing to have his thunder stolen by the new kid on the block, he played an integral role in their second five minutes later.His shot took a wicked deflection off al-Brake and then Abunada on its way into the net.Dzeko was well into his stride now, and he broke clear a few minutes later, his shot beating Abunada but rebounding off the post.Bosnia’s earlier sprightliness dipped in the heat, and it was the doyen of Qatari football, al-Haydos, who repaid coach Julen Lopetegui’s faith by slotting home in the 42nd minute.The Bosnian defence failed to learn from that, and in time added on, they had the far post to thank for keeping their noses in front as Pedro Miguel’s shot came back off it.Al-Haydos’s World Cup, and perhaps his distinguished international career, ended in tears as he trudged disconsolately off the pitch injured in the 55th minute.Chances were few and far between until Esmir stole in from the right wing and came close to emulating Alajbegovic’s effort, but Abunada turned it away for a corner.Bosnian frustration gave way to ecstasy when Mahmic prodded the ball home — the scorer ripping his shirt off in celebration, and the 21-year-old paid little notice to being booked for it.