Brennan Johnson sent his effort over the crossbar and Neco Williams’s spot kick was saved by Nikola Vasilj as Wales’s bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended with a play-off semi-final exit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties at the Cardiff City Stadium.
On the second anniversary of their home defeat on penalties to Poland in a decider to reach Euro 2024, Wales struck the woodwork through a curling first-half Harry Wilson effort before Daniel James put them ahead with a spectacular long-range strike six minutes after half-time.
Wales’ World Cup dream is over ❌
Bosnia and Herzegovina win on penalties ⚽️#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/qrZdMyr2XZ
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 26, 2026
Home goalkeeper Karl Darlow made a sublime save to tip an Edin Dzeko header away as Bosnia and Herzegovina threatened far more once they had fallen behind, and the former Manchester City striker glanced in Kerim Alajbegovic’s corner four minutes from time to inspire his side’s comeback.
Darlow saved the first kick of the shootout from Ermedin Demirovic. Harry Wilson and Mark Harris converted Wales’s first two kicks, with Haris Tabakovic, Ivan Basic and Amir Hadziahmetovic replying before Kerim Alajbegovic decided the contest.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will host Italy, who beat Northern Ireland 2-0 at home in their semi-final, in a one-legged match for a place in the final on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).
DAN JAMES‼️ WALES ARE IN FRONT 🏴
📺 Watch: @BBCiPlayer & BBC One Wales
📻 Listen: @BBCSounds & @BBCRadioWales
📲 Follow: @BBCSport online
#bbcfootball #WalvBos pic.twitter.com/SQfDUoxnwu— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 26, 2026
Analysis: Ampadu on Wales defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Wales’s Ethan Ampadu said his side’s huddle before the shootout “seems so small” but showed a unity that “makes us so strong”
“We’ll always be together,” the Leeds United defender or midfielder told BBC Sport. “We’re all professionals and, with the standards in this team, we’re always going to look back on what we could have done better.
Edin Dzeko scores to make it all square at the Cardiff City Stadium ⚽️
📺 Watch: @BBCiPlayer & BBC One Wales
📻 Listen: @BBCSounds & @BBCRadioWales
📲 Follow: @BBCSport online
#bbcfootball #WalvBos pic.twitter.com/gsmS5fVw8r— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 26, 2026
“Maybe we could have managed the game better in the 10 minutes before they scored, to make sure we stayed on the front foot and attacking.
“That’s how we want to play football and sometimes, when [opponents] put numbers forward, you naturally get pinned back a little bit. I’m sure that’s something we can look at in the future.”
Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: How James hit wondergoal
Leeds wideman James had been on course for redemption courtesy of his sensational finish, having missed a penalty in that tie with Poland.
Former Wales women international Nia Jones called James’s opener “cracking”. “My word,” marvelled Jones.
“Where did that come from? Two years since he missed that decisive kick against Poland to deny Wales the chance of going to a major tournament.
“It’s such a sweet strike. He hits it perfectly. It’s because he takes it earlier than Vasilj was expecting, which is why [Vasilj] lost his footing.
“[James] has not started a Premier League match for Leeds since November. That’s why you can’t doubt any team selection [head coach Craig] Bellamy makes. He knows his players and he knows their ability.”
Wales team vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Wales’s two changes were in midfield, where captain Ethan Ampadu returned from suspension and Jordan James also came in as Josh Sheehan and Liam Cullen made way.
Wales starting XI: Karl Darlow, Neco Williams, Joe Rodon, David Lawlor, Jay Dasilva, Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James, Daniel James, David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson
Wales substitutes: Danny Ward, Tom King, Lewis Koumas, Liam Cullen, Ben Cabango, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Regan Kpakio, Jordan Colwill, Mark Harris, Sorba Thomas, Josh Sheehan, Nathan Broadhead
Bosnia and Herzegovina team vs Wales
Dzeko, whose teams also included Inter, captained the visitors at the age of 40.
Bosnia and Herzegovina starting XI: Nikola Vasilj, Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac, Amar Memic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ivan Sunjic, Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko
Bosnia and Herzegovina substitutes: Osman Hadzikic, Martin Zlomislic, Nihad Mujakic, Nidal Celik, Stjepan Radeljic, Armin Gigovic, Ivan Basic, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Dzenis Burnic, Samed Bazdar, Kerim Alajbegovic, Haris Tabakovi
World Cup 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina group, teams
The draw for the finals has already taken place, putting Bosnia and Herzegovina or Italy in Group B.
Here’s how that group looks, including a look at each team’s FIFA ranking before the play-off semi-finals.
| Country | Rank |
| Switzerland | 18 |
| Canada | 29 |
| Qatar | 56 |
Switzerland are the highest-ranked team of the three in the group to have already qualified, with Canada potentially buoyed by their status as co-hosts at the finals.
Qatar – led by former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui – hosted the 2022 edition.
FIFA World Cup: Bosnia and Herzegovina schedule, fixtures
The path winners will meet Canada first, then Switzerland and Qatar.
| Date | Opponents | BST | ET | PT | Venue |
| June 12 | Canada | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BMO Field, Toronto |
| June 18 | Switzerland | 04:00* | 23:00 | 20:00 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| June 24 | Qatar | 04:00* | 23:00 | 20:00 | Lumen Field, Seattle |
Should they win their group at the World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina will face one of the eight best-performing teams to have finished third among the 12 groups.
If they finish second, they will meet the runners-up from Group A, which will contain Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and a European play-off winner.
If they reach the knockout stage as a third-placed team, they will encounter the winners of Group D or E. The USA, Australia, Paraguay, a European play-off winner, Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador are in those sections.
Check out the full World Cup bracket.
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The World Cup starts with a meeting between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on June 11 (20:00 BST).
