Ermedin Demirović played 115 minutes for Bosnia and Herzegovina in their 2026 World Cup play-off tie against Italy on Tuesday. - © IMAGO/www.imagephotoagency.it

bundesliga

Ermedin Demirović to buy VfB Stuttgart fans beer to celebrate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s FIFA World Cup qualification

01.04.2026

VfB Stuttgart forward Ermedin Demirović says he will buy beer for the club’s fans to celebrate qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The eastern European nation secured their spot at the summer showdown in Canada, Mexico and the USA after beating Italy 4-1 on penalties in the European qualification play-off finals on Tuesday, the match having finished 1-1 after extra time.

Prior to the play-offs – in which Bosnia also edged past Wales 4-2 on penalties in the semi-finals last week – Demirović told Sky that “if we manage to do it, drinks are on me for all of Stuttgart. I’ll buy beer for the fans, that would be insane.”

The 28-year-old started the decider in Zenica alongside Schalke veteran Edin Džeko. Although Bosnia went 1-0 down in the 15th minute, a red card for Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni shortly before half-time swung momentum in the home side’s favour.

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Haris Tabaković struck an equaliser in the closing stages, forcing the match into extra time. No further goals were scored, leading to a penalty shootout which Bosnia ultimately won, sparking wild celebrations.

“It’s surreal, I’ve got no words and I’ve lost my voice,” Demirović told Sky after the final whistle. “It’s incredible. We played really well and we 100 percent deserve to be going to the World Cup. What we’ve achieved for our country still hasn’t properly sunk in.

Watch: The best of Demirović in the Bundesliga

“We don’t care who we play against – we’re going to the World Cup. We’re going to celebrate now, so we don’t care who our opponents are. If we play like we did against Italy then we’ve got a chance against anyone."

Asked whether he would keep his promise of buying beer for Stuttgart’s fans, he replied in the affirmative: “I said I’d do it and I’m a man of my word. Drinks are on me. It’ll probably be expensive but it’s something I’ll do with love after an achievement like this. Stuttgart, the drinks are on me!”

Demirović and Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday as the Bundesliga resumes. Safe to say that what already promised to be an electric encounter just got that bit more exciting.