Nikola Katic’s Bosnia and Herzegovina have to settle for a place in World Cup qualification play-offs

Bosnia and Herzegovina missed out on direct qualification for next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States on Tuesday night (18/11). Sergej Barbarez’s team needed to win their final game in Group H against Austria to top Group H, but were held to a 1-1 draw in Vienna by the group leaders.

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Nikola Katic jogging in training.

Nikola Katic, normally a regular in the heart of his nation’s defence, wasn’t able to help his team at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. The 29-year-old was booked in their previous game against Romania (3-1 win), his second yellow card of the campaign, which meant he was suspended. Schalke’s number 25 would have been delighted to see his side go 1-0 up early on, courtesy of Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Mönchengladbach) in the 12th minute.

Austria, led by former S04 head coach Ralf Rangnick, found an equaliser late on via another former Royal Blue. Michael Gregoritsch, who spent the second half of the 2019/20 season at Schalke and now plays for Danish club Bröndby IF, drew the hosts level in the 78th minute to send them to their first World Cup since 1998.

Katic’s Bosnia ultimately finished second and still have a chance of making next year’s tournament. They will be one of 16 teams to take part in the play-offs in March 2026, where four spots are up for grabs. As well as the teams that finished second in their groups (Albania, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales), Thursday’s draw (20/11) will also include Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Romania and Sweden, who have all been included due to their performance in the Nations League.

No minutes for Ayhan with Turkey’s U21s

Mertcan Ayhan didn’t play in a 2-1 win for Turkey’s U21s on Tuesday night (18/11) in Lithuania. The Gelsenkirchen-born defender, who has represented Turkish youth sides since February 2022 (26 caps for U17s, U18s and U19s), was an unused substitute. Ali Habesoglu of Bodrumspor got both goals for Ayhan’s team (2’, 77’). Domantas Sluta (FC Dziugas) had equalised for Lithuania with 15 minutes left to play.

The away win keeps Turkey on top of group H, with 11 points now on the board from their first five games.

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