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The United States men’s national soccer team advances to the round of 16 by defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 Wednesday night in Santa Clara, California.
This is only the second time in the history of the American team that it has won in the round of 16. Their only other match came in 2002, when they beat Mexico, 2-0, in the round of 16.
Now, the USMNT will return to Seattle to face Belgium, who came back from a 2-0 second-half deficit against Senegal to win in overtime in the round of 16.
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Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
Usually, when the USMNT enters the knockout stage of the World Cup, they are considered the underdogs, hoping to be scrappy to pull off an upset. This time, in an expanded tournament format that begins with a round of 16, the home country was the big favorite.
Their play proved it, even in the face of adversity in the second half.
It was an inauspicious start for the USMNT after Bosnia and Herzegovina were awarded a few corners, and goalkeeper Matt Freese, who hasn’t really been challenged much in this World Cup, had to scramble to save one that was destined for the back of the net if he didn’t clear it away.
US WORLD CUP STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN RECEIVES CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD DURING ROUND OF 16
From there, however, the USMNT went to work in the first half and controlled the game. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before they scored, and Falorin Balogun, who had a tremendous tournament in terms of goals scored, did his job as an attacker when he received a pass off a turnover and put it into the back of the net in the 29th minute.
However, the linesman threw his flag into the air – offside. The video replay showed that Balogun was clearly off, and there wasn’t much debate from head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his sideline in this instance either.
Folarin Balogun of the United States scores his team’s first goal past Nikola Vasilj, #1, of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Balogun had another chance in stoppage time, and in this case he was onside and still lethal.
With Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defenders around him, Balogun turned and swung his left foot at the ball just inside the opponent’s box and it slipped through the goalkeeper’s legs for the first goal of the match.
The American crowd went frenzied and Balogun celebrated with an ode to LeBron James, making his signature gesture as his teammates congratulated him on his third World Cup goal.
But the second half saw a huge moment happen in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s favor when Balogun was called for a red card after VAR review determined it was following a foul where he stepped on a defender’s ankle. It was a controversial decision that changed the complexity of the game, with the USMNT reduced to 10 men compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 11.
Additionally, despite this hard-fought victory, Balogun will have to miss the round of 16 due to this decision, which is a clear loss for the United States.
Malik Tillman of the United States celebrates after scoring on a free kick during the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The red card came in the 64th minute and the USMNT had to “suffer”, as FOX Sports color commentator Stu Holden said on the broadcast, to claim the victory by a goal. Even though they had to defend with more tenacity, the USMNT still created scoring opportunities despite their situation.
One of them was called back when Christian Pulisic found the back of the net, but was offside. But Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Stjepan Radelijic held off Sergiño Dest just outside the box, forcing the referee to draw a yellow card and giving the USMNT a prime opportunity to pull away in the 80th minute.
Enter Malik Tillman, the German-born son of a U.S. Army veteran, who made the perfect free kick, breaking through the wall of five players in front of the net and past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Folarin Balogun (20) of the United States and Christian Pulisic (10) of the United States stand nearby after Balogun received a red card during the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The goal put the United States up 2-0, and the momentum Bosnia and Herzegovina had after Balogun’s red card was wiped out. They desperately tried to get back into the game, but the United States slammed the door, much to the satisfaction of the packed house at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and the millions watching at home.
There will be tons of debate about how the United States handles the loss of Balogun in the next round, but the job was done in this match where the country’s favorites kept their title hopes alive.
