World Cup 2026 pages
Sports · World Cup 2026 · Round of 32
USAvs
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2–0
Full time · Wednesday, July 1, 2026 · 8:00 p.m. ET · San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's Stadium), Santa Clara, CA
Result
The USA won a men's World Cup knockout game for the first time since 2002, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi's Stadium — and did the last half hour with ten men. Folarin Balogun, who had already had a goal chalked off for offside, put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half-time, sliding in Malik Tillman's pass after Tim Ream's midfield interception; then in the 64th he was sent off after a VAR review for dragging his studs down Tarik Muharemović's leg. Bosnia pushed but never seriously tested Matt Freese, and when Sergiño Dest won a free kick just outside the box in the 82nd, Tillman curled it inside the near post — the USA's first World Cup free-kick goal since Eric Wynalda in 1994. Next: Belgium in the round of 16, back in Seattle. USA advance to the round of 16.
USA 4-3-35-3-2 Bosnia and HerzegovinaUSASubstitutions
At this Stage
The host nation had waited since 2002 to win a men's World Cup knockout game, and the wait ended with a flourish and a fright at Levi's Stadium. The USA, Group D winners, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the sides' first-ever competitive meeting despite playing the final half hour a man short after goalscorer Folarin Balogun's red card. Bosnia — in the knockouts for the first time since 2014 — pushed, but Malik Tillman's 82nd-minute free kick, the USA's first at a World Cup since Eric Wynalda in 1994, closed it out. The round of 16 sends the hosts to Seattle on July 7, where Belgium wait — a step up in class, and exactly the kind of night this tournament was brought home for.
Round of 32
Round of 16
What we know now
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Attendance: 68,827
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock); the free Tubi simulcast carries Telemundo's Spanish feed.
Watched by: 36.2M in the US
What I said beforehand
The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.
USA to win and carry the host nation into the round of 16. Mauricio Pochettino's side topped Group D — a 4-1 dismissal of Paraguay and a 2-0 over Australia before a dead-rubber loss to Turkey — and will have a raucous Bay Area crowd behind them. Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockouts for the first time since 2014 on the back of a 3-1 win over Qatar, and in Edin Džeko and Ermedin Demirović they carry a genuine aerial and counter threat. But the USA's pressing, pace and home advantage should tell. 2-1 USA.
My locked pick: USA advance ✓ RIGHT
“USA to win and send the host nation into the round of 16. Mauricio Pochettino's side won Group D — beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before resting players in a dead-rubber loss to Turkey — and will have a partisan Bay Area crowd behind them. Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the knockouts for the first time since 2014 and carry a threat in veteran Edin Džeko and Ermedin Demirović, but the USA's energy, high press and home advantage should carry them through. USA to win.”
Locked 2026-06-30 04:35 UTC — rendered verbatim from the pick ledger; never a fresher, hedged version
The case for USA
56% to winThe USA have home advantage, fresher legs after rotating against Turkey, and a clear identity under Pochettino — pressing from the front and building down the right through Dest and McKennie. With Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun in form, they have the attacking quality to break down a Bosnia side that has leaked goals, and a partisan Levi's Stadium crowd to lift them.
The case for Bosnia and Herzegovina
20% to winBosnia are organised, physical and carry a proven match-winner in Edin Džeko, with Ermedin Demirović offering a second focal point. Sergej Barbarez's side eliminated Italy in qualifying and know how to frustrate a favourite; if they defend their box, win the aerial duels and catch the USA's high line on the counter, host-nation expectation can do the rest.
Both cases written 2026-06-30, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 24% belongs to the draw.
Storylines
- The host nation's knockout opener: USA, Group D winners, meet Bosnia and Herzegovina in the sides' first-ever competitive meeting.
- Bosnia reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2014, beating Qatar 3-1 to advance as a best third-placed side.
- Mauricio Pochettino rested key players in a dead-rubber loss to Turkey, so the USA should be fresh; Folarin Balogun has two goals.
- Played in the open air at Levi's Stadium in the Bay Area for the prime-time kickoff.
The coaches
Mauricio Pochettino USA
The Argentine has the USA pressing high and building down the right; won Group D before resting players in the final match.
Sergej Barbarez Bosnia and Herzegovina
Built Bosnia on defensive solidity and counter-attacks, eliminating Italy in qualifying to reach a first knockout stage since 2014.
Availability
| Amar Dedić | Doubt — thigh injury; if he misses out, Arjan Malic is set to start at right-back | Sports Mole / ESPN |
| Tarik Muharemović | Available — returns from suspension (red card against Switzerland) and is expected to start | Sports Mole |
| Christian Roldan / Mark McKenzie / Auston Trusty | Doubt — all faced fitness checks (muscle, foot and ankle respectively) before the final squad was confirmed | Sports Mole |
| Folarin Balogun | Available — two goals so far and expected to lead the line | Sports Mole |
| Christian Pulisic | Available — recovered from a calf issue; said on 1 July he is 'fit, ready to go the distance' after 30-plus minutes against Turkey, and is expected to start | ESPN |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Weather: Clear and pleasant at Levi's Stadium for the prime-time kickoff — around the mid-70s°F at first whistle, easing into the 60s with a freshening westerly through the evening. (NWS Bay Area / Monterey forecast (29 Jun 2026), as of 2026-06-30)
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil). (FIFA Round-of-32 match appointments, matched by venue and kickoff time; ESPN's report of the red-card review names Claus on the night, as of 2026-07-02)
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's Stadium), Santa Clara, CA, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.