Recap
This friendly match will be played in Sarajevo, where Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team are expected to enjoy tremendous support ahead of their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Bosnians fully deserved their place at the tournament after eliminating Italy in the play-offs, a result that confirmed the quality and potential of this generation.
Despite the absences of experienced figures such as Šunjić and Džeko, coach Barbarez still has the vast majority of his key players available, giving the hosts both quality and depth heading into this match.
On the other side, North Macedonia appear to be going through a difficult transitional period. New head coach Goce Sedloski made his debut in the heavy 4-0 defeat against Denmark national football team, before his side played out a goalless draw with Republic of Ireland. In addition to the lack of cohesion and experience, Sedloski has called up five debutants, while several important players are unavailable – most notably captain Bardhi, along with Kostadinov and Stojčevski.
The atmosphere at Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium is expected to be exceptional, with a sold-out crowd eager to give their national team a memorable send-off before the World Cup begins. Although the odds have already dropped significantly from yesterday’s 2.00-2.05, there still appears to be considerable value on the Bosnian side.