Edin Džeko's inspiration lifts Bosnia to the World Cup and now at 40 he faces a fight to be fit

His right arm strapped tight to protect a damaged shoulder, Edin Džeko raised his left hand holding his phone to film Bosnia-Herzegovina’s late-night team celebrations after beating Italy and qualifying for the World Cup.

The 40-year-old talismanic striker smiled as he led teammates singing in the bar-room party while they wore white t-shirts with the 2026 World Cup logo.

Džeko’s goals and inspiration have helped take Bosnia to just its second World Cup as an independent soccer nation since the former Yugoslavia broke up in regional wars during his childhood.

Now the player who has so often carried the team on his shoulders faces a race against time to get his shoulder healed before the tournament starts in 10 weeks.

“I hope that it is not a great injury to Edin Džeko and that he will be able to be with us at the World Cup,” Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez said, “because he does not have much time.”

Džeko was injured right at the end of the 1-1 draw against Italy and couldn't take part in the ensuing penalty shootout, but the fact that he was still on the field through all of extra time was a sign of his leadership. With the very last kick of the game Džeko was advancing with the ball into Italy’s half when taken down by the hacking challenge of Davide Frattesi.

Džeko stayed on the turf getting treatment for his injured shoulder as the final whistle blew and the teams started preparing for the penalty shootout.

Džeko’s six goals in the qualifying campaign, including an 86th-minute equalizer at Wales in the playoffs semifinal last Thursday, had taken Bosnia to the playoff final. And his strong challenge at a cross to the far post helped tee up Haris Tabaković to cancel 10-man Italy’s lead in the 79th on Tuesday.

Then his younger teammates had to pick up the baton and beat Italy’s storied goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the shootout.

Bosnia went 4-for-4, while two Italians faltered. The team's final two kicks were scored by Wisconsin-born Esmir Bajraktarević — who played one game for the United States two years ago before FIFA approved his switch to Bosnia — and teenager Kerim Alajbegović.

The combined age of Bajraktarević and Alajbegović is 39, one year less than Džeko.

The 18-year-old Alajbegović was not even born when Džeko made his international debut in July 2007 and began a remarkable run of scoring in 20 straight calendar years for his country.

Džeko watched on his with shoulder strapped when Bajraktarević’s decisive spot-kick sneaked underneath Donnarumma's hands to spark wild celebrations in the loud and intimate Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica.

After nine seasons playing in Italy, Džeko spent some time commiserating with the losing players, including former teammates at Inter Milan and Roma.

Then he went up into the seats of the main grandstand to meet family and friends as emotion swept the nation.

“What can I say? We saw everything after that last penalty. Great pride,” Bosnia defender Nikola Katić said. “I’ve never cried after a game, I’m 29 years old, and now the tears have started.”

With or without Džeko, Bosnia should have a great opportunity to advance from its World Cup group, after falling short in 2014 in Brazil.

Bosnia opens against co-host Canada on June 12 in Toronto, then faces Switzerland in Los Angeles and finishes against Qatar in Seattle on June 24.

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An aerial view shows fans celebrating after the Bosnian national team qualified for the World Cup by winning a penalty shootout against Italy, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Bosnia's coach Sergej Barbarez is chaired aloft as he celebrates after winning a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Bosnia's Edin Dzeko, left, is challenged by Italy's Davide Frattesi during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view shows smoke rising above Sarajevo as soccer fans light flares to welcome the Bosnian national team after qualifying for the World Cup by winning a penalty shootout against Italy, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Bosnia's Edin Dzeko, left, greets Italy's Bryan Cristante after a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has begun the world’s largest national population count, which could reshape welfare programs and political representation across the country.

The previous census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion. It's now estimated to be more than 1.4 billion, making India the most populous nation.

The new census had been planned for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical challenges.

Here’s how India’s census works and why it is significant:

The first phase of the count started Wednesday and will roll out around the country through September. The workers will spend about a month in each area collecting information on homes and available facilities and will document housing stock and living conditions.

The exercise will blend in-person surveys with a digital option where residents can submit information through a multilingual smartphone application that integrates satellite-based mapping.

The second phase to be conducted from September to next April 1 will record more detailed information, like people's social and economic characteristics, including religion and caste.

More than 3 million government workers are expected to be deployed over the course of the year. In 2011, nearly 2.7 million enumerators surveyed more than 240 million households nationwide.

The second phase of the census will attempt a broader accounting of caste beyond historically marginalized groups.

Caste is an ancient system of social hierarchy in India and is influential in defining social standing and deciding who gets access to resources, education and economic opportunity. There are hundreds of caste groups based on occupation and economic status across India, particularly among Hindus, but the country has limited or outdated data on how many people belong to them.

The last attempt to gather detailed caste information through a census dates to 1931, during British colonial rule. Since independent India’s first census in 1951, it counted only Dalits and Adivasis, members of marginalized groups known as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who qualify for certain government benefits.

Successive governments have resisted conducting a full caste count, arguing it could heighten social tensions and trigger unrest.

Population data collected through the census underpins the distribution of government welfare programs and a wide range of public policies.

It could also prompt a redrawing of India’s political map, as seats in the lower house of Parliament and state legislatures may be increased to reflect population growth. A 2023 law reserves one-third of legislative seats for women, so any expansion would raise the number of seats set aside for female representatives.

Irfan Ahmad checks census registration online at a registration center as the street is reflected on the glass in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

A Muslim woman checks her census registration online at a registration center in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

FILE -Mahesh Shah, left, stands as his family members look while census worker Rumima Das, writes the information on a paper on the first day of the national census at Ramsingh Chapori village, east of Gauhati, India, April 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File)

FILE - Indians crowd ticket counters at a railway station in Ahmadabad, India, Oct. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)