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| USA Beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to Reach FIFA World Cup Round of 16 (Photo Getty Images) |
New York - The United States booked its place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a determined 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara on Wednesday, overcoming the challenge despite playing with 10 men for much of the second half. The win sets up a highly anticipated knockout clash against Belgium.
The hosts struggled to find their usual rhythm early on as Bosnia and Herzegovina defended resolutely and threatened on the counterattack. After several missed opportunities, the breakthrough finally arrived just before halftime when Folarin Balogun capitalized on a scramble inside the penalty area to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when Balogun was shown a red card following a challenge, forcing Mauricio Pochettino's side to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men. Bosnia increased the pressure in search of an equalizer, but the American defense, led by experienced defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards, stood firm under sustained attacks.
Any hopes of a Bosnian comeback were ended in the 82nd minute when Malik Tillman produced a superb free-kick, curling the ball beyond goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to double the United States' advantage and seal qualification for the next round.
The victory marks the United States' first FIFA World Cup knockout-stage win since 2002 and continues an encouraging campaign under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, Balogun's suspension following his dismissal will be a significant concern ahead of the Round of 16 encounter with Belgium.
With home support behind them and growing confidence after another resilient performance, the United States will now turn its attention to Belgium, aiming to continue its deepest World Cup run in more than two decades.