Zlatan Ibrahimovic had tears in his eyes while working as a commentator after watching a “very emotional” World Cup moment.
A visibly emotional Zlatan Ibrahimovic had tears in his eyes after Bosnia and Herzegovina earned their spot in the World Cup knockout stages with an unforgettable win over Qatar.
Before this summer’s tournament, Bosnia and Herzegovina were the lowest-ranked team (65) in Group B, behind Switzerland (19), Canada (30), and Qatar (56).
But Sergej Barbarez has enjoyed his team’s role as underdogs, especially after beating Wales and Italy to reach the finals. “We came here as complete underdogs,” Barbarez told reporters. “We wanted to do something big, and now it’s come true.”
Bosnia started the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against co-hosts Canada but then lost 4-1 to Switzerland, making their final game against Qatar very important.
Kerim Alajbegovic scored in the 29th minute, giving Bosnia a well-deserved lead. Five minutes later, an own goal from Qatar’s Mahmoud Abunada made it 2-0. Qatar scored once more before halftime through Hassan Al Haydos, but Bosnia held strong and sealed the win with Ermin Mahmic’s goal just 10 minutes before the final whistle.
After Bosnia ended a seven-game winless streak, Zlatan Ibrahimovic shared a rare emotional moment. Speaking on FOX Sports alongside Thierry Henry, he said, “This is what football is about—bringing people together. For Bosnia, a country that has been through so much, seeing this joy makes me emotional.”
He added, “It gives me goosebumps because that’s where my father’s roots are. Seeing 70,000 people singing together… Bosnian fans have probably already won the World Cup in their hearts. It makes me proud and happy.”
“Advancing from the group stage is special,” Ibrahimovic said, “but the best part is hearing the fans sing. That really touches me.”
At just 18 years and 276 days old, Kerim Alajbegovic became the youngest player ever to score from outside the penalty area in a World Cup, breaking Kylian Mbappe’s record. He also became the eighth-youngest goalscorer in World Cup history.
After the game, Ibrahimovic praised the young star: “People talk about the goal, but for me, it’s his bravery that stands out. He’s only 18, playing in the World Cup with so much pressure and millions watching, but he acts like the stadium belongs to him. That’s very rare.”