Soccer <\/p>\n
New England Revolution<\/a> homegrown product Esmir Bajraktarevi\u0107<\/a> provided arguably the biggest moment in Bosnia & Herzegovina soccer history on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The 21-year-old winger scored the game-winning penalty kick against four-time FIFA World Cup<\/a> champions Italy, sending his country to the 2026 World Cup in the process.<\/p>\n Bajraktarevi\u0107 went the full 120 minutes for Bosnia & Herzegovina, then sealed the 4-1 shootout victory after the sides battled to a 1-1 draw in the UEFA Playoff Path A final.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Bajraktarevi\u0107 spent 2022-24 with New England before moving to Eredivisie powerhouse and UEFA Champions League regulars PSV Eindhoven<\/a> for reportedly up to $6 million and a sell-on fee.<\/p>\n Although Bajraktarevi\u0107 has 14 caps with Bosnia, the Wisconsin native originally represented the United States before filing a one-time switch of association. He also featured for several US youth international teams while developing in New England’s academy pipeline.<\/p>\n With Bajraktarevi\u0107’s heroics, Bosnia complete Group B at the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada<\/a>, Switzerland and Qatar. They’ll meet Canada on June 12 in Toronto\u00a0in one of the tournament’s first matches.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Italy have now missed three straight World Cups. The Azzurri won the 2006 World Cup and last qualified in 2014.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n