A poker coach who plays soccer will face the United States in the World Cup.

Bosnia's national team coach, Sergej Barbarez, a two-time WSOP final table participant, will face the United States' coach, Mauricio Pochettino, in the World Cup Round of 32.

When Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team, walks into the break room on July 1st during the World Cup Round of 32 match between Bosnia and Herzegovina, his opponent will be a poker player who has reached the final table of the World Series of Poker not just once, but twice.

Sergej Barbarez will take over the Bosnia and Herzegovina national teams in 2024, marking his first coaching role and leading the teams back to the World Cup main event after a 12-year absence. However, before embarking on his coaching career, he was a regular in tournament poker, accumulating dozens of live winnings totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

How good are the poker skills of the coaches of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

According to Card Player, The Hendon Mob, and WSOP profiles, Barbareez's tournament record spans over 13 years. His two WSOP final table appearances are his most notable achievement, both from the 2017 Pot-Limit Omaha event.

His first appearance was at the 2017 WSOP in Las Vegas, where Barbareez finished eighth in the €$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, earning €$21,172. A few months later, he improved further at the 2017 WSOP Europe in Rozvadov, finishing fifth in the €2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Max event, earning €$24,385 – Allen Kessler was also at the final table with him.

The Bosnian tactician's biggest live prize comes from the 2022 ARIA Poker Classic $600 Pot-Limit Omaha event, where he finished as runner-up in a field of 301 players, winning $28,299.

Barbarez was a standout striker in the Bundesliga, boasting a remarkable goal-scoring record. He also had impressive performances in other live tournaments, including winning over $20,000 in the PLO event at the 2019 World Poker Tour Barcelona, and further impressive cash prizes at the WSOP, European Poker Tour, and Wynn Summer Classic.

His most recent recorded achievement was in 2023, the year before he took over the Bosnian national team, when he finished 13th in the WSOP Circuit Rozvadov €550 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty Hunter event (out of 182 entries), winning €1,035.

Barbarez is clearly a PLO specialist throughout his career, and his track record shows he is a highly capable poker player – two WSOP final table appearances and an ARIA runner-up finish, achievements that many would be proud of.

Can a poker player who has transitioned to coaching defeat Pochettino's American team?

Poker is our domain, not football, so we'll just say that Caesars Sportsbook considers the USA the favorite for a knockout match against Bosnia, with odds of -205 for the USA and +550 for Bosnia in the game next Wednesday in San Francisco.

Nevertheless, for Pochettino—one of the most respected coaches in world football—facing off against a former poker pro will undoubtedly be a unique challenge. After all, Barbarez is certainly the only coach in world football with multiple WSOP final table appearances.

If Bosnia is unfortunately eliminated, there is still a glimmer of hope for this coach: the 2026 WSOP Main Event will start on July 2 in Horseshoe against Paris—just the day after the match!

Want to change Texas Holdem from "can understand" to "can win"?

If you want to learn more about Texas Hold'em, you can continue reading：

The Origins of Texas Hold'em: Why is it the World's Most Popular Poker Variant?
Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings and Showdown Rules (Beginner’s Essentials)
Texas Hold'em Betting teaching: Check / Bet / Call /Raise and Betting Strategy Analysis
The importance of Texas Hold'em position? Why is the back position more advantageous?
How to play Texas Hold'em? Novices learn Texas Hold'em rules, processes and betting teaching in 10 minutes
Texas Hold'em Starting Hands Strategy Guide: Which Hands to Play?
Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart Tutorial: Complete Starting Hand Chart and Position Strategy
How to play Texas Hold'em? Complete rules and a hand's flow (Preflop / Flop / Turn / River)

Hunter Poker offers comprehensive tutorials, hand analysis, and strategy sharing to help players upgrade from simply "reading the cards" to understanding the range . This allows you to make better decisions in every hand.

In Facebook Follow Hunter Poker.
In Youtube Follow Hunter Poker.

Want to learn more about Texas Hold'em gameplay and strategies?

Online Texas Hold'em free tournaments typically have no entry fee, making them ideal for beginners to familiarize themselves with the rules and for advanced players to test strategies and gain experience. View full brand profiles to learn about each platform's free tournament schedule, features, and target audience.

Headed to