USMNT beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to secure World Cup last-16 spot
The United States men’s national team have advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup after securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara.
Folarin Balogun opened the scoring before his second-half red card forced Mauricio Pochettino’s side to defend a fragile lead.
Malik Tillman then sealed the victory late on with a spectacular curling free-kick.
The win at Levi’s Stadium sets up a challenging knockout clash against Belgium on Tuesday.
Balogun strikes before seeing red
Tim Ream initiated the opening goal by brilliantly intercepting a poor clearance from the opposition goalkeeper.
The veteran defender’s quick thinking allowed Balogun to confidently finish and put the hosts ahead.
However, the goalscorer was dismissed with over half an hour remaining in regulation time.
The sending-off dramatically shifted the momentum of the tie.
Pochettino’s men were forced to abandon their attacking rhythm and desperately protect their slender advantage.
Defensive resilience pays off
Goalkeeper Matt Freese was repeatedly called into action as the European side mounted consistent pressure against the 10 men.
Chris Richards and Ream marshalled the backline superbly to deny any clear equalising opportunities.
The American squad held their shape to absorb wave after wave of opposition attacks.
Their disciplined approach eventually yielded a decisive counter-attacking opportunity.
Tillman stepped up and beautifully curled his set-piece past the wall to confirm their progression.
Belgium await in Seattle
The tournament hosts will now travel to Lumen Field to face a formidable Belgian team.
This upcoming fixture offers an immediate chance for redemption following a heavy defeat earlier this year.
The European heavyweights outclassed the Americans during a 5-2 friendly loss in Atlanta back in March.
Pochettino will now need to find a tactical solution to cope without his suspended star striker.