USA beat Bosnia 2-0 with 10 men and advance to the 2026 World Cup round of 16

A win that will be remembered as much for what happened on the pitch as for the sending-off that changed the game. At Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the USA beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0, played the final 26 minutes a man down, and secured a place in the round of 16 at the World Cup. Balogun opened the scoring, was sent off after a VAR review, and Tillman killed the game with a beautiful free kick.

In the round of 16, the Americans meet an old acquaintance: Belgium, precisely the team that eliminated them in the 2014 last 16.

Head-to-head

The USA and Bosnia had never met in an official competition. Before this World Cup, only three friendlies: 4-3 USA in 2013, 0-0 in 2018 and 1-0 USA in 2021. With today's result, the head-to-head stands at 3 American wins, 1 draw and 0 Bosnian wins.

USA in the knockouts: ending a 24-year drought

The 1930 third-place finish remains the USA's best World Cup campaign. The 2002 quarterfinal is the only knockout won since — until today. With the win over Bosnia, the USA ended a run of five consecutive knockout eliminations.

Bosnia in the knockouts: first time, first farewell

Bosnia have only played two World Cups: 2014 (group stage) and now 2026. They reached the knockouts for the first time after eliminating Italy on penalties in the playoff — and bowed out in their very first knockout match.

How the match unfolded

Bosnia had more possession (52% to 48%) and more shots (9 to 8), but the USA's xG (1.06) was more than double Bosnia's (0.44). The difference between insisting from range and finishing inside the box.

At the end of the first half, at 45', Balogun opened the scoring with his third goal at the World Cup — classic center-forward opportunism. At 64 in the second half, he was sent off after VAR called the referee to review a challenge. Controversial decision, game heating up.

A man down, the USA dropped back, got organized and still had the composure to kill it off. At 82, Tillman took a free kick from outside the box, curled it and buried it in the top corner. No chance for the keeper. Game closed, ticket booked.

Match facts

• 45' — Folarin Balogun (USA), inside the box — third goal at the World Cup
• 82' — Malik Tillman (USA), free kick into the top corner
• Sent off: Balogun (USA) at 64', after VAR review

USA's standouts

Folarin Balogun (Monaco, 24). Hero and villain of the same night. Reached his third goal of the World Cup and then got sent off in a play that sparked a lot of debate. He's the best American center-forward of the moment.

Malik Tillman (PSV, 23). Held the team together a man down and still decided it. The free kick at 82 is the kind of goal fans keep forever. Creative midfielder with a great foot on dead balls.

Christian Pulisic (Milan, 27). Off the scoresheet, but involved in almost every buildup in the first half. With 33 goals in 86 caps, he remains the technical and emotional reference of the team.

Bosnia's standouts

Edin Džeko (unattached, 40). Captain and Bosnia's all-time top scorer. Scored 6 in qualifying — probably his World Cup farewell.

Esmir Bajraktarević (PSV, 21). Scored the decisive penalty against Italy in the playoff that took Bosnia to the World Cup. Quick, technical, the country's future.

Ermedin Demirović (Stuttgart, 26). Bundesliga top scorer in 2023/24, he was the man who most troubled the American defense in the final 20 minutes.

Market value

Pulisic is the most valuable American at €40M on Transfermarkt. The US squad totals over €385M. On the Bosnian side, defender Tarik Muharemović leads at €25M and the squad totals around €146M — one of the most modest at the World Cup, but enough to reach the knockouts.

Next opponent: Belgium

In the round of 16, the USA face Belgium — the same side that eliminated them in the 2014 round of 16 with a 2-1 win in extra time. Twelve years later, there's a score to settle. Guriball follows it right up to kick-off.