There are almost 3,000 kilometers from Wisconsin to Seattle in the American state of Washington, or about two and a half hours by plane, but for Sabina Zolota, that distance was not an obstacle when it came to one thing – supporting the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team at the World Cup.
Sabina, together with as many as 13 members of her family, decided to travel to the American West to watch live the decisive match of the group stage against Qatar. A trip that would otherwise require thousands of dollars for accommodation and organization took a completely different course thanks to an unusual and warm story that showed the strength of Bosnian hospitality in the diaspora.
Instead of a hotel, Sabina and her family were invited to Selma Porča’s home, which completely changed their travel plan and turned it into an experience that goes beyond a sporting event.
“You won’t pay for the hotel,” Selma told her, to which Sabina replied with a smile that there were plenty of them. But Selma had a simple answer: “Where the family members aren’t angry, the house isn’t cramped either.”
In the homes of the Porča family and their relatives, in two houses next to each other, as many as 24 people stayed around the game during the day. According to them, the atmosphere was filled with socializing, shared meals, barbecues and preparations for the game, but also a strong sense of belonging and togetherness that transcended borders and generations.
The hosts made an effort to bring the spirit of Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the guests, so there were traditional cakes, coffee and local dishes on the table, while flags and fan paraphernalia were being prepared for the big sports evening.
“My goal was for everyone to celebrate together and to show the children what it’s like to be from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we are always good hosts,” said Selma.
The story is also particularly emotional due to the fact that many fans from Bosnia and Herzegovina spared no money or effort to attend the matches. Some, it is said, took out loans or sold their cars so they could follow the national team’s historic performance at the World Cup, the first in 12 years.
For Sabina and her family, as well as for their hosts in Seattle, football has become much more than a game – it has become a reason for people to connect, open the doors of their homes and show that togetherness and hospitality have no boundaries.
