Dtest looks ahead to clash with teammate at PSV: ‘He chose the other side’

Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Esmir Bajraktarevic. In particular for Bajraktarevic it will be a special duel, since the Bosnian international was born and raised in the United States.

Moreover, the Bosnian winger made his debut for the United States national team in January 2024. Nevertheless, the PSV player chose an international career with the Balkan country over Team USA. 

Dest regrets the choice by Bajraktarevic to put Bosnia above the USA. The right-back says this in an interview with The New York Post.

The American international therefore also hopes that his teammate at PSV will regret it after the match between Team USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ''He made a choice between the United States and Bosnia... He chose the other side, but hopefully he will have regrets about it after the match,'' said Dest.

Both countries hope, on Thursday night Dutch time, to secure a place in the last sixteen and until the final whistle, Dest and Bajraktarevic will also not maintain contact with each other. ''I haven't called him yet and I don't think that will happen until match day. After the match we can talk, but for now the focus is great'', so says Dest.

The American looks with great confidence at the meeting with the Balkan country. ''We have improved a lot in recent years and I think that was visible in the first few days. We have a lot of experience and mentally it’s going very well. Everyone has a lot of confidence,'' concludes the wing defender.