The Round of 32 World Cup game between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be quite the experience for Esmir Bajraktarević, who represented the Stars and Stripes before switching to the Dragons.
Esmir grew up in Appleton, WI, but relocated to Foxborough, MA in 2021 to join the New England Revolution’s residential academy program. Instantly a fixture for Revs II, he signed a Homegrown deal within a year.
He got regular first-team minutes in 2023, earning a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team in January 2024. His 29-minute appearance against Slovenia turned heads, as he created one chance, completed three dribbles, and won six of eight duels.
True to his style of play, Esmir used his very first touch to meg an opponent.
Seth Macomber
“The coaching staff has been really impressed with him,” then-head coach Gregg Berhalter said after the game. “Really impressed with his skill set. He's 18 years old, but he's got a strong mentality, very competitive, very aggressive on the ball, willing to do the work defensively, and just has coped really well with the environment.
“You would think that a young player, 18 years old, comes in and is shy and is afraid to impose himself on the field, but this is the exact opposite of Esmir, and we think he's got a great future ahead of him.”
In May 2024, Esmir was called up to the final training camp before the Olympics, but he wasn’t selected for the tournament.
Three months later, he announced his decision to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina, his parents' birthplace. Just moments after taking the field in his debut in September, Esmir offered a cross that was converted by his childhood hero, Edin Džeko.
It was the first of several special moments that Esmir has encountered while playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another could come on Wednesday when the two countries that shaped him face off.
A Deep Connection To Bosnia
The Srebrenica War greatly affected Esmir’s family, as he lost a grandfather, four uncles, and several other relatives. His parents, Elmir and Emina, were able to flee the country, landing in the United States in 2001. Four years later, Esmir, the youngest of three, was born.
The Bajraktarevićs were naturally exposed to American culture. The children dabbled in baseball, football, skateboarding, and hockey, but soccer was their real passion, with Elmir, who is left-footed like Esmir, serving as inspiration.
Esmir played for local town teams before joining SC Wave in Milwaukee, which required a 1.5-hour trip three times a week.
Elmir and Emina sometimes worked six days a week, so Esmir often made the journey with family friends Kevin and Mitzy Wasco. Esmir and their son Liam sang Juice WRLD and Drake to pass the time.
“They would try to embarrass me because I didn't know the name of the artists,” Kevin Wasco said with a laugh. “They were good kids. They were great kids to travel with.”
Despite being in another country, the Bajraktarevićs maintained many Bosnian traditions through language, music, food, and more. Ramadan was closely observed in the household.
“His family is important to him,” Kevin said. “His prayers are important to him. Reflection is very important for him.”
Esmir represented the United States on various youth national teams but made only one senior appearance. The Bosnian federation pushed for Esmir to make a one-time switch after the United States chose not to bring him to the Olympics.
“Once it became clear that he was not going to the Olympics, then it became clear that Bosnia was going to go hard for him,” Kevin said. “And once they went hard for him, it became clear that he was a fit for them.”
Soon after the switch, Esmir told the media that while he appreciated his time playing for the United States, he had always felt a bond with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I think even if it came down to it, for the first team, senior team, it would’ve always been Bosnia,” Esmir explained. “The youth teams, obviously, I had really good experiences there and everything, but yeah, for me, it was no question.”
An Undeniable Boldness
Esmir didn’t have easy access to a Major League Soccer academy, as he lived three to four hours from Minnesota United and the Chicago Fire. While he did play as a guest player for the Fire, a move was needed to really accelerate his development.
Connections led him to join the Revolution, separating Esmir from his family and friends at 16 years old. It wasn’t an easy decision, but one he had to make if he wanted to increase his odds of playing professional soccer.
Seth Macomber
“When he was younger, even if he was clearly above, he could still get a lot out of playing on local teams,” Kevin said. “Now, none of us thought that he was getting as much out of it.”
Esmir was well cared for by the Revs staff, including the residency parents, and stayed in touch with those in Wisconsin. His sister and Mitzy Wasco helped with school while the Revolution coaches developed an on-field plan. At the same time, Esmir continued to demonstrate a high level of self-belief.
He completed the first hat trick in Revolution II history and was the first graduate of the Revolution Academy’s residency program to ascend to the first team.
In January 2025, he became the first Revs Homegrown to be sold overseas when he was transferred to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in a deal worth up to $6 million.
“It was a move that the player really wanted,” Revs sporting director Curt Onalfo explained. “It was a good financial situation for us. It was a situation where Esmir really wanted to go as well. That sometimes ends up being the ticker.”
Esmir helped PSV win back-to-back league titles and became a staple of the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team. His ability to regularly meg opponents has made him a viral sensation.
Former New England Revolution attacker Esmir Bajraktarević had an assist in his first start for PSV.
— Seth (@SethMan31) November 30, 2025
Of course he also had a meg.
Roll the tape. #NERevs pic.twitter.com/9Z0QjlXeP6
But his boldest moment so far came when he scored the game-winning penalty in a shootout against Italy, sending Bosnia and Herzegovina to its second World Cup since becoming an independent nation.
Esmir celebrated the accomplishment by taking off his jersey and showing it to the crowd. His first pro jersey with the Revolution read “Esmir,” in part due to ease. The one he wore at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica proudly displayed his family’s surname.
“He believes in himself, and he believes in his family,” Kevin said. “He leans on his dad, who was a big, big influence, his mom and dad.
“It's amazing how, at a young age, he had that soccer ability. I think it comes from his dad, and it comes from the fact that he had to go through a lot.”
There were a lot of happy screams and tears from the infamous “Bajraktarević and Wasco Clan,” but the effects of the goal reverberated well beyond that.
“There were two people who said they named their kid Esmir because of Esmir,” Kevin said. “He sent them both a jersey.”
A Chance Meeting at the World Cup
As fate would have it, the United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a knockout game on Wednesday.
Kevin, a long-time supporter of the United States, admits that he’s slightly torn about who he will support, noting that he will certainly be emotional if Esmir gets on the scoresheet.
There's an alternative timeline where Esmir is on the opposite side of the field, but Kevin believes he landed in the right spot.
“It was about his family,” Kevin said. “It was about that history in the '90s. It was about everything that they had to overcome to have a great family. Although they are in the United States, that was still home.”
The Bajraktarevićs are eternally grateful for the opportunities they’ve had in the United States. Esmir himself appreciates what the country has given him, especially in regard to soccer.
Playing for town teams, Wave SC, and the Revolution helped him become the player and person he is today. Representing the country on the national stage is something he doesn’t take for granted.
But there was always a pull to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The family tells stories about family members lost in the war and maintains ties with those who still live there.
Wednesday’s game will certainly elicit many emotions for those involved in Esmir’s journey, but the overarching one is pride.
“His dad was really excited about him representing Bosnia,” Kevin said. “Dad and mom were very thoughtful that this meant a lot after everything they’ve been through on both his dad’s and mom’s side of the family.”
