Meet Wisconsin-born Esmir Bajraktarević, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup hero

The former New England Revolution midfielder came up through the US system, but felt a pull toward his parents' homeland

Esmir Bajraktarevi's uture offered two options with little overlap.

Born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, a Midwestern river town where Harry Houdini also came of age, Bajraktarevi's development took him from the nearby Chicago Fire's academy to the New England Revolution. He began representing the United States at youth levels, first the U-19s and then the U-23s. He was included in Gregg Berhalter's squad camp in January 2024, making his senior debut against Slovenia. He was involved at Olympic level too, helping the US qualify for Paris 2024.