Age is just a number—and Bosnia's Edin Džeko is about to prove it on football's biggest stage. The former Manchester City striker has been named to Bosnia-Herzegovina's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. At 40 years old, Džeko is poised to join an elite group of players who have competed in a World Cup after turning 40.

This milestone places Džeko in rare company. Cameroon legend Roger Milla remains the only outfield player to have appeared—and scored—at a World Cup after his 40th birthday, doing so in 1994. Six goalkeepers have also achieved this feat, including Egypt's Essam El Hadary (45 at the 2018 World Cup), Colombia's Faryd Mondragón, Northern Ireland's Pat Jennings, England's Peter Shilton, Italy's Dino Zoff, and Tunisia's Ali Boumnijel. This summer, Croatia's Luka Modrić (40) and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (41) are also expected to add their names to this distinguished list.

Džeko's journey to this moment has been nothing short of remarkable. With 148 international caps and 73 goals—including a crucial strike in the playoff semifinal win over Wales—he remains the heartbeat of Bosnia's attack. He played in seven of Bosnia's eight Group H qualifiers, plus both the semifinal and final of the playoffs, helping his nation secure only their second World Cup appearance.

Bosnia will compete in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. The squad features a mix of experienced leaders and emerging talent, including defenders Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta) and Amar Dedić (Benfica), midfielders Amir Hadžiahmetović (Hull City) and Benjamin Tahirović (Brøndby), and forwards Ermedin Demirović (VfB Stuttgart) and Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Białystok).

As the first team to announce their final roster for the 2026 World Cup, Bosnia is setting the stage for what promises to be a memorable tournament. And with Džeko leading the line, fans can expect a story of resilience, passion, and the timeless spirit of the beautiful game.