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FIFA World Cup 2026: Why Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic is a man to watch out for

Tarik Muharemovic was crucial in taking Bosnia back to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 12 years. With days to go for the tournament to start, the defender will be a key man to watch out for.

It was rather ironic that the centre-back’s standout performance came against Italy in the playoff final two months ago. He stood tall, despite the demands of the occassion and that simply defines his character.

The 23-year-old was key to the Neroverdi in the 2025/26 campaign too, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the Italian top-flight. He played 32 times, also finding the net twice in what was his first-ever full experience in the Serie A.

A product of the Juventus youth academy, the defender was never quite handed a fair chance by the Bianconeri. His development at their Next Gen academy was deemed to be complete in 2024, when Sassuolo first roped him in on loan in an attempt to seek promotion back to the top-flight.

He left no one disappointed in the second division too, featuring as many as 28 times in rather reliable fashion. That convinced Sassuolo into a permanent deal and it has clearly paid off.

Surprisingly enough, Muharemovic made his Bosnia debut well before he had joined Sassuolo on loan. But his prominence has only grown over time, becoming a leader at the back, despite being rather young.

Playing style

Muharemovic boasts impressive ball-playing ability and being left-footed probably helps him at that. Despite a tall frame, he thrives in building play from the back and off the ball, he is very focused on staying deeper, picking up a sweeper role.

He isn’t someone who is aggressively tackling opposition attackers and hunting them down. He is someone who relies very much on his positioning and reading of the game to win the ball back and circulate it forward with venom. His frame allows him to do that, as his reach stands out when operating the deepest in the backline.

Moreover, he has shown keenness to play in a back three and in a back four, which helps club and country.

Bosnia suit Muharemovic

Sergej Barbarez’s side play a deep to mid-block in a 4-4-2 and this brings the best out of Muharemovic. He can use his physical traits perfectly and he also adds a significant set-piece threat, which has also helped Sassuolo across the season.

The World Cup is a tournament where managing game-state is vital and Muharemovic offers that net positive of being dominant in various phases of play. This tournament will be massive for him, as it will help him earn a major move in the summer.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

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