‘It’s defiance’: why some Bosniaks are reviving historic flag as they cheer on World Cup squad

Lilies making a vivid comeback alongside foreign-imposed flag, as younger generation wrestles with national identity Before each game in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup adventure, Sarajevo has blossomed with primary colours – and two distinct flags. One is the national flag dating to 1998: blue and yellow diagonal halves emblazoned with a slanting line of white stars. The other has golden lilies on a blue shield set against a white background, and has a far deeper history, steeped in centuries of complexity. Its striking resurgence as a national symbol, showcased during Bosnia’s first World Cup for 12 years, comes with its own powerful message. “It’s basically a big FU,” said Reuf Bajrović, a former energy, mines and industry minister who is now vice-president of the US-Europe Alliance, an Atlanticist advocacy group. “It’s in great part the mass rejection of the international community and its policies.” The lilies’ vivid comeback comes at a time of deepening uncertainty about Bosnia’s future. The country’s historical protector and closest ally, the US, has grown unreliable under the Trump administration, which has essentially switched sides and now appe