This Thursday, Cyprus will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at the AEK Arena in Larnaca as part of the 7th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Here’s a look at what to expect from this match.
Match preview
In their last outing, Cyprus managed a 2-2 draw against Romania at home, ending a tough streak and boosting morale. However, they still struggle defensively, regularly allowing two or more goals in qualifiers.
Cyprus has been competitive at home, with only three losses in their last 11 World Cup qualifying matches. They have also previously beaten Bosnia and Herzegovina at home, which might give them extra motivation for this match.
Bosnia and Herzegovina started their qualifiers strongly but faced a setback with a 1-2 loss to Austria last round, slightly affecting their momentum. Despite this, they still lead their group, showing solid performances at home and away.
Away wins have been challenging for them; in their last 11 away matches, they only had three wins by a two-goal margin. The talent of attackers like Džeko and Demirović usually gives them an advantage, but their defense can struggle against quick counterattacks, especially in away games.
Probable line-ups
- Cyprus: Freitas; Siikkis, Sielis, Laifis, Pileas; Kastanos, Kostis, Kousoulos; Tzionis, Pittas, Loizou
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Memić, Katić, Muharemović, Mujakić; Šunjić, Tahirović, Gigović; Dedić, Džeko, Demirović
Match facts & head-to-head
- Cyprus remains unbeaten in 8 of their last 11 home World Cup qualifiers.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina has not lost in eight consecutive away qualifiers.
- Cyprus defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina at home during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Prediction
Cyprus has proven that they can compete strongly at home. Given the visitors’ occasional inconsistency and the determination of the hosts, a close match is anticipated. The recommended bet is “Cyprus +1.0 Asian Handicap” at odds of 1.58.