Football has always had a habit of making a mockery of statistics, and few matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 illustrated that better than Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3-1 victory over Qatar.

On paper, this was a game that should hardly have produced a goal at all. The final expected goals (xG) figures told a remarkable story: just 0.68 for Bosnia and Herzegovina and 0.77 for Qatar. In simple terms, neither side created chances typically worth even a single goal.

Yet the two teams combined for four goals in a contest that repeatedly defied logic and statistical probability.

The 3-1 victory helped Bosnia and Herzegovina reach the Round of 32, where they are going to play against the hosts - United States of America.

World Cup 2026

Bosnia - Qatar 3:1 (2:1)
Goals: Alajbegović, 29 (1:0); Al-Brake, 34 (own goal) (2:0); Al-Haydos, 42 (2:1); Memic Am., 80 (3:1)

Bosnia: Vasilj N.; Kolasinac; Katić (Hadžikadunić, 64); Radeljic; Malic (Memic Am., 46); Šunjić I. (Tahirovic, 46); Bašić І.; Alajbegović (Burnić, 82); Bajraktarević; Demirovic; Dzeko (Mahmić, 64)
Substitution: Tahirovic (from 46); Memic Am. (from 46); Hadžikadunić (from 64); Mahmić (from 64); Burnić (from 82)
Bench: Jurkas; Zlomislić; Mujakic N.; Dedic A.; Gigovic; Hadžiahmetović; Baždar; Tabakovic; Lukic J.
Yellow Cards: Memic Am. 81

Qatar: Abunada; Ró-Ró; Laye; Al-Brake; Ghaber (Hatem, 46); Fathy (Manai, 79); Boudiaf (Ali Almoez, 72); Khoukhi; Edmilson Junior (Alaaeldin, 79); Al-Haydos (Al-Ganehi, 56); Afif Ak.
Substitution: Hatem (from 46); Al-Ganehi (from 56); Ali Almoez (from 72); Manai (from 79); Alaaeldin (from 79)
Bench: Zakaria; Barsham; Mendes; Al-Oui; Al-Hussain; Abdurisag; Jamshid; Muntari M.
Yellow Cards: Fathy 78