Poker Playing Soccer Coach to Face Off Against USA in World Cup

When the US Men's National Soccer Team faces Bosnia & Herzegovina on July 1 in the World Cup Round of 32, the opposing coach, Sergej Barbarez, will bring a background not typically found in professional soccer management.

Before taking on his first managerial role with Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2024, Barbarez was an active presence on the poker tournament circuit for over 13 years. His poker accolades include two World Series of Poker (WSOP) final table finishes in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) events in 2017. He placed eighth in a $1,500 PLO event at the 2017 WSOP in Las Vegas for $21,172 and later finished fifth in the €2,200 PLO Eight-Max event at the 2017 World Series of Poker Europe in Rozvadov, earning $24,385. His largest recorded cash came in 2022, a runner-up finish for $28,299 in a $600 Pot-Limit Omaha event at the ARIA Poker Classic.

Barbarez, a former striker in Germany's Bundesliga, also secured cashes at other prominent events, including over $20,000 from a PLO event at the 2019 World Poker Tour Barcelona, as well as additional results at the European Poker Tour and the Wynn Summer Classic. His most recent poker achievement was in 2023, where he finished 13th in the WSOP Circuit Rozvadov €550 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty Hunter, securing €1,035.

Despite his poker background, Caesars Sportsbook lists the US team as heavy favorites with odds of -205 against Bosnia & Herzegovina's +550 for their match in San Francisco. If Bosnia & Herzegovina does not advance, Barbarez has an immediate post-tournament option: the 2026 WSOP Main Event begins on July 2nd.