Soccer fans packed restaurants and gathering spots across downtown Erie on Wednesday night to watch the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup matchup between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For one group of fans, the match was a celebration no matter the outcome.
Bosnian-Americans gathered to cheer for both of the countries they call home, saying the game represented much more than a result on the scoreboard. Many came to the United States after fleeing the Bosnian War, building new lives while maintaining deep ties to their homeland.
Several fans said the opportunity to see the United States face Bosnia and Herzegovina on one of soccer’s biggest stages was something they never imagined experiencing.
Some members of the group also traveled to California to attend two of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup group-stage matches. This year’s tournament marked the country’s first-ever trip to the knockout stage, a milestone they said symbolizes how far both the national team and the country have come.
“I think since the war that happened in Bosnia, it just means so much that we were able to come together as a country and really fight and represent and show up,” said Anita Brkic.
Emina Hrnjic said Bosnia and Herzegovina’s success carries meaning far beyond the sport itself.
“It’s a country that wasn’t supposed to exist, and, you know, with the war and everything, so it’s definitely more than soccer for us,” Hrnjic said.
The United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, but for the Bosnian-Americans gathered in Erie, the evening was about celebrating both of the countries that have shaped their lives. Regardless of the final score, they said they were heading home happy.