“I dedicate this to my childhood friends” — Edin Džeko opens up on painful past after Bosnia’s World Cup qualification

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been met with joy, celebration, and national pride—but for captain Edin Džeko, the moment carries a much deeper, emotional meaning rooted in a painful childhood memory.

Speaking after securing qualification, the veteran striker delivered a heartfelt tribute that has since touched football fans around the world.

“I want to dedicate this to my friends who I used to go play football with in the street every afternoon when I was 6 years old,” Džeko said.

His voice, filled with emotion, reflected not just the joy of success but the weight of a tragic past.

Džeko then revealed a chilling memory from his early years growing up during the Bosnian War. A conflict that shaped his life long before football fame found him.

“One day my mom got angry, and a bomb exploded in the street… and all my friends died,” he added.

The statement highlights the harsh reality many children in Bosnia faced during the war in the 1990s. What was once an ordinary childhood playing football on the streets was violently disrupted by conflict, leaving lifelong scars.

For Džeko, football became more than just a career; it became an escape, a purpose, and ultimately a tribute to those he lost. Rising from those tragic beginnings, he went on to become one of Bosnia’s greatest-ever footballers, captaining his country and playing for top European clubs.

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