The United States defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. The Americans advanced to the Round of 16 despite playing with 10 men for much of the second half.
Forward Folarin Balogun opened the scoring in the 45th minute. He finished calmly past the Bosnia goalkeeper after a quick counterattack. The goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at halftime.
However, Balogun received a red card in the 64th minute for a tackle on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović. The decision left the United States shorthanded. Coach Gregg Berhalter adjusted his tactics immediately. The team shifted to a more defensive shape while maintaining attacking threats.
Midfielder Malik Tillman doubled the lead in the 82nd minute. He curled a world-class free kick from just outside the penalty area into the top corner. The strike stunned the Bosnia defense and secured the result.
The United States controlled much of the match at Levi’s Stadium. Bosnia-Herzegovina struggled to create clear chances even after the red card. American goalkeeper Matt Turner made several key saves to preserve the clean sheet.
After the match, Balogun addressed the red card. “I went in hard, but I thought it was a yellow,” he said. Tillman praised the squad’s effort. “Everyone stepped up when we went down to 10,” he stated. Berhalter highlighted the team’s character. “The players showed tremendous spirit to hold on and advance,” the coach noted.
The victory marked only the second knockout-stage win in U.S. men’s national team history. The Americans will now face Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 6 in Seattle.
