Until the early 1990s, Bosnian-Herzegovinian players were part of the Yugoslavia national football team. In 1991, Yugoslavia split up and the independent countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Serbia-Montenegro were formed. There have been players from this region who represented Yugoslavia at the World Cup, though traditionally most Yugoslavian players were Serbian and the Serbia team is accepted by FIFA as the official successor of Yugoslavia

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina gained independence from Yugoslavia on 1 March 1992, due to the Bosnian War, the country was unable to enter qualifying for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. They reached their first-ever playoffs for a major tournament during qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, eventually losing to Portugal.

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as winners of UEFA Group G. This was the first time they appeared at a major tournament as an independent nation. They won one game, against Iran, but did not progress from the group stage. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina then qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they reached the Round of 32 for the first time.

2014

Bosnia and Herzegovina didn't make it out of Group F at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The team lost two group games and won one against Iran.

2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the UEFA play-offs, beating four-time champions Italy in a penalty shootout in the play-off final. They were drawn into Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.

After a 1–1 draw with co-hosts Canada and a 4–1 loss to Switzerland, an 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović inspired a 3–1 win over Qatar that lifted them to third on 4 points, enough to advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. This is the country's first ever knockout appearance at a World Cup. In the Round of 32 their run was ended by co-hosts the United States, who won 0–2.

Date Result Opponent
12 June 1–1 Canada
18 June 1–4 Switzerland
24 June 3–1 Qatar
1 July 0–2 United States (Round of 32)

Trivia

  • Bosnia was the only team to make its debut at the 2014 World Cup.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2026 World Cup by beating four-time champions Italy in a penalty shootout in the UEFA play-off final.