SEATTLE — Sections 302 to 305 was where the party was at on Wednesday afternoon.

That was where “BHFanaticos” supporters stood, and clapped and chanted for 90 minutes on a toasty afternoon. More than 5,000 miles from home for most of these Bosnia-Herzegovina fans, they pounded drums, shouted through megaphones, set off smoke bombs and flung beer trying desperately to will their country to a place never experienced before on the biggest stage of international soccer.

It’s not guaranteed yet, but it very likely they saw that goal accomplished and all those Bosnian fans in blue and white — young and old alike — will get to see their country playing in the knockout stages of the FIFA Men’s World Cup after a 3-1 win over Qatar.

Bosnia-Herzegovina finished third in Group B after Switzerland beat Canada, 2-1, in a match played simultaneously in Vancouver, B.C. The Canadians and Bosnia finished even on points, but Canada had the tiebreaker on goal differential.

But the top eight third-place teams advance to the knockout stage and with four points earned it’s almost assured that the Golden Lillies still have a World Cup life to play.

And depending on how all things shake out, Bosnia could end up the opponent for the United States on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif., in the round of 32 with the chance at a return trip to Seattle on July 6 for the round of 16

The young and old of the Bosnian roster were responsible for the two goals that proved to be enough to hold off Qatar. Kerim Alajbegović, all of 18 years old, scored a banger from outside the penalty area midway through the first half. Minutes later, 40-year-old Edin Džeko, the “Bosnian Diamond” redirected a long pass across the penalty area, off the leg of a Qatari defender and in for an own goal.

Qatar had the better of the chances for the next 40 minutes of the match and cut the deficit in half just before halftime when Hassan Alhaydos scored in the 42nd minute. Qatar nearly pulled even in first-half stoppage time only to see Pedro Miguel’s shot squarely hit the far post and ricochet away.

But for all Qatar did to hang around, it was Bosnia’s Ermin Mahmić who scored in the 80th minute and clinched the victory.

Unlike last Friday when the stadium was decidedly either American or Australian, this day was a hodgepodge. The mix of fans touched all parts of the soccer landscape. Seattle Sounders and U.S. jerseys were swirled together with those from France, Colombia, England, Egypt and various club teams from around the world.

Thanks in part to a matchup that wasn’t the most attractive on paper and was the least draining to the pocketbook, this was the game where fans who wanted to say they attended a World Cup match showed up.

But many of those neutrals became engrossed with the Bosnian fans and joined in. It wasn’t one-sided, but it was notable. When Mahmić scored, it was well beyond just the Bosnian fans dotting the stadium that were jumping and joining in the party.

The entire day was a celebration of Bosnia’s presence in the tournament. They were the team that wasn’t supposed to be here. It was supposed to be Italy in this spot until Bosnia decided otherwise and knocked out the Italians in the European playoffs.

And now, they’re very likely to get the chance to take down another powerhouse country in the knockout rounds.

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