World Cup performance stirs mixed emotions in St Louis's Bosnian community

World Cup performance stirs mixed emotions in St Louis’s Bosnian community as thousands of local residents rally around Bosnia and Herzegovina while balancing loyalty to their new home. St Louis, Missouri has about 70,000 Bosnians, the largest diaspora outside Bosnia, many of whom arrived as refugees after the 1992–1995 war. Before a warmup match against Panama, community members paraded in blue, white and yellow regalia. On Wednesday, nearly 2,000 people watched Bosnia play the United States in the World Cup knockout stage at Mersad Smajic’s Bevo Caffe Lounge. Former Bosnian pro Elvir Kafedžić, now assistant coach for St Louis City 2, said the event often felt more like celebration than rivalry. The community is anchored in neighborhoods such as Bevo Mill, “Little Bosnia,” and local Bosnian restaurants, including a James Beard Award winner.