World Cup
“He always talked about playing for the Bosnian national team. It’s very important to him, because of his family.”
Esmir Bajraktarevic celebrates after Qatar’s Sultan Albrake scored an own goal during Bosnia-Herzegovina’s World Cup win on June 24. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
July 1, 2026 | 11:03 AM
4 minutes to read
The Round of 32 World Cup clash between the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be a crossroads matchup for former New England Revolution winger Esmir Bajraktarević, with the country of his heritage facing the country of his youth.
Bajraktarević came up through the U.S. youth national team setup. He featured on the U19 and U23 squads and made one appearance for the senior national team.
That lone U.S. appearance came in January 2024, but by July, he had decided to play for Bosnia-Herzegovina. By August, he had been called up to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s senior national team to participate in the UEFA Nations League.
Bajraktarević’s parents fled Bosnia-Herzegovina due to the Bosnian War and were survivors of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. After spending time as refugees in Switzerland, the Bajraktarevićs moved to the United States.
“It is something that I’ll never forget, obviously. Srebrenica is something that I’ll never forget,” Bajraktarević told Seth Macomber of The Blazing Musket in 2024. “It’s a part of me and who I am. It’s in my blood. It’s something that is a big part of me.”
He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin in 2005. Due to the distance to any local MLS academies, Bajraktarević played in local recreational leagues and pickup games. He would later join SC Wave in Milwaukee.
In 2021, Bajraktarević was recruited to New England to play for the Revolution academy. Former teammate Malcolm Fry was stunned when he first saw Bajraktarević play.
“He just showed up at training one time, and I wasn’t really sure who he was. I started playing with him, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be fun,’” Fry said. “Those first weeks that he was there in training, I was just so excited to play with him. Esmir loves playing a type of football that’s easy on the eye. It’s really fun to be a part of that as his teammate. He started playing with the academy when I was coming back from an injury at the time, and I remember I was so excited to get back.”
Fry said that Bajraktarević’s technical ability was “beyond comprehension.” He also noted that Bajraktarević doesn’t get enough credit for his pace and athleticism.
Peyton Miller got to know Bajraktarević when he joined the New England Revolution residency program and began playing for the Revolution academy. For all the younger kids, Bajraktarević became a player they aspired to be like.
“He was the best player in the Academy,” Miller said. “As a younger kid, we would always go to the games, the tournaments, playoffs, and we would watch him perform.”
Living with Bajraktarević, the current Revolution winger got to see a side that not many others saw. The two eventually would become inseparable and remain in contact.
“We hung out on and off the field almost every day, and even now we still talk a little bit,” Miller said. “He’s very funny, he’s a very kind person. He carries himself very well.”
New England center-back Andrew Farrell noted that when Bajraktarević first started training with and eventually playing for the first team, he was a quiet guy in the locker room. On the field, it was a different story.
“But when he got into the field, he just lit it up,” Farrell said. “He just has confidence in himself. It’s not like cockiness. He’s always had that level of confidence in himself.”
While representing the United States at the youth level, his Bosnian roots were always something that Bajraktarević was proud of. Teammates recall him discussing his heritage and what it meant to him.
“From the moment that I met him, he was passionate about his personal and his family’s connection to Bosnia,” Fry said. “It was something that he talked about a lot. We roomed together in [Generation Adidas] Cup, and I remember having pretty long conversations about what that meant to him. I knew it was always a dream of his to be in the position he is now, so I wasn’t surprised.”
Similarly, Miller noted that Bajraktarević was always dreaming of representing Bosnia on the global stage.
“He always talked about playing for the Bosnian national team,” Miller said. “It’s very important to him, because of his family. When he got the call to Bosnia, he was super happy, and he was just blessed to be able to have the opportunity and play for his home country.”
Miller and Fry agreed that Bajraktarević will be highly motivated for the matchup, but it’s an extension of his regular mentality.
“He could be playing a small-sided game and he would have a chip on his shoulder,” Fry said. “That’s just the way he is. I don’t think he needs any extra motivation for that, and he’s a very mentally strong player as well.”
Farrell concurred, adding that the matchup will be even more interesting considering Bajraktarević is familiar with the U.S. squad through his time in MLS and also with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
“I think he will play with a chip on his shoulder, but he kind of always plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Farrell said. “So it’s going to be a good matchup because he probably has familiarity with a lot of those guys. So he’ll be one to show what he can do.”
Looking ahead to the game against the U.S., Revolution fans will remember that Bajraktarević is relentless as a winger. For the likes of U.S. players Sergiño Dest (who is Bajraktarević’s club teammate at PSV), Antonee Robinson, and Joe Scally, they should be prepared for a few duels.
“I think when he gets [into] a one-to-one matchup, as defenders, it’s very scary, Farrell said. “I think he feels the most comfortable when he’s on the outside, on the sideline, and able to go at you. He’s got the pace, he’s got all the skill moves. Usually when he’s on the right side and cutting on his left is very scary for the defender, because he’s the player that can make things happen, and he’s done that for the Bosnian national team.”
Dest was actually asked about Bajraktarević’s switch from the U.S. to Bosnia-Herzegovina. While said with a smile, the outside back said he hopes to get one over on his club teammate.
“He chose the other side, but hopefully he will .. regret [it] after Wednesday,” Dest told reporters.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
