The Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica has long been a tough place for visiting football teams. It's known as a "cursed" venue for opponents. The Bosnian national team, called the Dragons, has beaten strong European teams there, like Norway, Greece, and Austria. They've also held powerhouses like Spain and Portugal to draws.
Bosnia had an unbeaten run at the stadium from 1995 to 2006. The stadium's design brings fans close to the action, making players feel at home. This history gave Bosnian supporters strong belief when they came to watch their team play Italy in a World Cup playoff final.
Italy's rich football history and four World Cup wins didn't scare the local fans. When Esmir Bajraktarevic scored Bosnia's fourth penalty, beating Italy in a dramatic shootout, the stadium erupted.
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Start Your News Detox"Take Me to America"
Fans started arriving in Zenica, 70 kilometers north of Sarajevo, early on game day. They came in waves, wearing team colors and waving flags. Some even flew in from other countries for the historic night.
Thousands couldn't get into the 10,000-capacity stadium. They gathered at a nearby fan zone or filled cafes to watch on big screens. Many believed the stadium would have been full even if it were 10 times larger.
The Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv led fans in the streets, singing their hit "USA." The song's chorus, "I am from Bosnia, take me to America," fit perfectly for a match to qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
As kickoff neared, fans sang and chanted, making enough noise to be the team's "12th member." They sang "Bosnom Behar Probeharao" (Blossoms Have Bloomed in Bosnia), a song many Bosnians see as a symbol of love for their homeland.
A Special Night
Bosnia's captain, Edin Dzeko, asked fans to applaud the Italian national anthem before the game. This was a nod to Italy's visit to Sarajevo in 1996 after the Bosnian war. That friendly match helped restart international football in the country.
Fans honored Dzeko's request, applauding the Italian anthem. But after that, the focus was on qualifying for the World Cup. The tense match ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. Bosnia won.
The crowd cheered, waved flags, lit flares, and set off fireworks. The party continued into the early morning. Players stayed on the pitch to celebrate with the fans. Later, the celebration moved to the streets. Cars full of fans, draped in flags and honking horns, turned Zenica into a giant party.
Bosnian fans celebrated well past the end of the match [Matteo Ciambelli/Reuters]
"I Believed in the Dragons"
Hours later in Sarajevo, nearly 100,000 supporters greeted the players and coaching staff. Many called it one of the nation's greatest wins. A popular comment shared was, "This is not just a victory, it’s a reminder of who we are."
Twelve years after their first World Cup appearance in 2014, Bosnia was back. The win brought back memories of March 21, 2013, when Bosnia beat Greece to qualify for that first World Cup.
Dzevahid Mehicic, an elderly man from Zenica, said many people his age doubted they would see Bosnia qualify again. He told Al Jazeera, "They thought that moment might never come again, but I believed the Dragons had the strength to defeat even a powerful Italy."
For younger fans, it was a new experience. Eleven-year-old Nihad Babovic, wrapped in the national flag, said teen forward Kerim Alajbegovic was his favorite player after Dzeko. "I can’t wait for the World Cup to start so I can watch the matches with my dad," he said.
Once again, Zenica became the heart of Bosnia for a night. The stadium brought together the past and present in a moment of shared joy.
Bosnian supporters of all generations came out to celebrate [Amel Emric/Reuters]
