USMNT advances to Round of 16 in FIFA World Cup with 2-0 win over Bosnia

SANTA CLARA, CA – The U.S. Men’s National Team is marching on to the Round of 16 in FIFA World Cup 2026 following a resounding 2-0 shutout victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Round of 32 match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium that was bathed in red, white and blue. A goal at the very end of the first half from striker Folarin Balogun and a magnificent free kick moment from midfielder Malik Tillman led the U.S. to its first win in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage since 2002 and delivered Mauricio Pochettino his third victory at a FIFA World Cup, the most all-time for a USMNT manager.

The USMNT overcame adversity when its first goal scorer on the day, Balogun, was shown a red card in the 64th minute, leading the U.S. to face its biggest test of the tournament yet – playing with 10 men for around 36 minutes of regulation and extra time. Not only did the U.S. show a determined and mature response while playing a man down – the USA rose to the occasion to double its lead and keep its European opponent scoreless for the USA’s second clean sheet in four tournament matches.

The hard-earned, collective result was the USMNT’s second win in program history in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup. Most importantly, the USA’s journey in FIFA World Cup 2026 on home soil continues. The U.S. now advances to the Round of 16 to face Belgium on July 6 in Seattle.

The U.S. earned its place tonight in the tournament’s first-ever Round of 32 following a successful group stage in which the U.S. scored the most goals (eight) and collected the most points (six) it ever has in the FIFA World Cup group stage. Wins over Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles Stadium and Australia on June 19 paved the way for a first-place finish in Group D with one game to spare, the third time in history the USMNT has won its group.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino deployed the same starting XI from the team’s 4-1 win over Paraguay in the group stage opener, resulting in 10 changes from the team’s most recent match on June 25 against Türkiye. One of those changes was forward Christian Pulisic, who returned to the starting lineup after playing just 77 minutes in the group stage due to a calf issue.

• Starting XI and Lineup Notes: USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aside from the very start of the match, the U.S. largely controlled the opening 15 minutes with 78 percent of the possession. Bosnia and Herzegovina forced U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese to make back-to-back saves to match his total for the tournament. The first came after Bosnia and Herzegovina launched a long goal kick that dropped in behind the U.S. backline. The Wayne, Penn., native stood tall and blocked the shot from Ermedin Demirovic for his first of three saves of the day. The proceeding corner kick appeared to be swerving into the goal until Freese dove backwards and palmed it away to defuse the danger.

The U.S. continued working the spaces in its attacking third, trying to find ways to break through Bosnia and Herzegovina’s compact and low block of defenders. In the 18th minute, Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj dove to block a firm cross into the box from midfielder Weston McKennie. The blocked ball bounced off the head of fullback Antonee Robinson, just steps from the goal line and sailed over the crossbar.

It appeared the U.S. delivered the breakthrough after pressure from Tillman caused a turnover deep in the USMNT’s attacking third. The attack developed quickly, and Balogun rolled a great finish into the lower right corner of the net, but the striker was called offside, and the match remained scoreless.

The breakthrough did arrive in the 45th minute. After the U.S. press forced Bosnia and Herzegovina into a long ball that defender Tim Ream brought down beautifully with a first-time touch, the U.S. was off to the races. Bosnia defender Stjepan Radeljić deflected Tillman’s threaded pass to Balogun at the top of the box. The ball also grazed the foot of Tarik Muharemovic, but the U.S. striker stayed with the play and used his strength to gain position to roll his shot into the net off the foot of Vasilj from about 15 yards out.

Balogun had to wait until the very end of the half to score one that counted, but he got the historic goal, his team-high third of the tournament.

In the second half, the match changed significantly when Balogun was issued a red card in the 64th minute for a play that was not initially called a foul. A VAR review left the U.s. both confused and facing a tough test down a man, looking to hold onto the one-goal lead against an opponent that was only growing hungrier and more physical.

With 10 men on the pitch, the U.S. doubled its lead in a moment of magic. The U.S. was awarded a direct free kick about 20 yards from goal after a foul on Sergiño Dest. Tillman took the kick and delivered a stunning strike with his right foot over the Bosnian wall, off the goalkeeper’s hand and into the net, sending the crowd of 68,827 fans into a patriotic frenzy. It was his first goal of the tournament and gave the U.S. some room to breathe in the 82nd minute.

After going ahead by two goals, the U.S. then had to hold off a Bosnia and Herzegovina team that increased its urgency and fired off more shots as time was winding down. The defensive effort in the final eight minutes plus 10 minutes of stoppage time was calm and professional, earning the USA one of the most historic wins in program history, securing the win and clean sheet to earn advancement at FIFA World Cup 2026.

The win sends the U.S. to the Round of 16 to face Belgium on Monday, July 6 in Seattle (5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m.). Earlier in the day, Belgium rallied from two goals down to defeat Senegal 3-2 at Seattle Stadium in extra time. The winner of USA-Belgium will move on to the Quarterfinals at Los Angeles Stadium.

Goal Scoring Rundown:

USA – FOLARIN BALOGUN, 45th minute: Captain Tim Ream brought down a long kick from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a first-time touch to Tyler Adams. The midfielder flicked the ball ahead to Malik Tillman, who slipped a pass to Balogun that went off BIH’s Stjepan Radeljic then Tarik Muharemovic. The Dragons converged but Balogun kept his composure and fired a low, left-footed shot off Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj from about 15 yards out that bounced into the net. USA 1, BIH 0

USA – MALIK TILLMAN, 82nd minute: The U.S. was awarded a direct free kick about 20 yards from goal on the left side of the penalty box after a foul was called on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tillman took the kick and hit the ball with pace to deliver a stunning strike with his right foot that Vasilj could only parry into the back of the net. USA 2, BIH 0 FINAL

Additional Notes:

• Folarin Balogun became the third player to score three or more goals in a single edition of a FIFA World Cup for the USA after Bert Patenaude (four in 1930) and Landon Donovan (three in 2010).
• With three this tournament, Balogun is now tied for the USMNT’s fourth place all-time in World Cup goals with Brian McBride, in just three matches played.
• The USA has scored seven goals before halftime in this FIFA World Cup, more than any other team.
• Malik Tillman scored his first goal at a FIFA World Cup. He’s the second USA player on record (since 1966) to score a direct free-kick goal in the FIFA World Cup after Eric Wynalda vs. Switzerland in 1994.
• Matt Freese earned his second World Cup clean sheet against Bosnia and Herzegovina, moving him into a three-way tie with Jimmy Douglas and Matt Turner for most all-time by a USMNT goalkeeper.
• This was the USA’s third win at FIFA World Cup 2026, the most in a single edition of the competition.
• Mauricio Pochettino has the most wins all-time at the FIFA World Cup for a USMNT manager.
• Mark McKenzie and Cristian Roldan were unavailable for the match.

– U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date: July 1, 2026
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Knockout Stage – Round of 32
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.
Attendance: 68,827
Kickoff: 5 p.m. PT
Weather: 71 degrees, sunny

Lineups:

USA: 24-Matt Freese; 16-Alex Freeman, 3-Chris Richards 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 5-Antonee Robinson; 4-Tyler Adams, 17-Malik Tillman, 2-Sergiño Dest (14-Sebastian Berhalter, 87), 8-Weston McKennie (7-Gio Reyna, 90+5), 10-Christian Pulisic (9-Ricardo Pepi, 88); 20-Folarin Balogun

Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Turner, 25-Chris Brady, 6-Auston Trusty, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 18-Max Arfsten, 19-Haji Wright, 21-Tim Weah, 23-Joe Scally, 26-Alex Zendejas

Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino

BIH: 1-Nikola Vasilj; 18-Nikola Katic (15-Amar Memić, 75), 21-Stjepan Radeljić, 4-Tarik Muharemovic; 7- Amar Dedic, 8-Armina Gigovic (20-Esmir Bajraktarevic, 51), 14-Ivan Šunjić (6-Benjamin Tahirovic, 14), 5-Sead Kolasinac (23-Haris Tabaković, 75), 19-Kerim Alajbegovic; 11- Edin Džeko (Capt.) (26-Ermin Mahmić, 51), 10-Ermedin Demirović

Substitutes not used: 12-Mladen Jurkas, 22-Martin Zlomislić; 2-Nihad Mujakic, 3-Dennis Hadzikadunic, 9-Samed Baždar, 13- Ivan Bašić, 16-Amir Hadžiahmetović, 17-Dzenis Burnic, 25-Jovo Lukic

Head Coach: Sergej Barbarez

Stats Summary: USA / BIH
Shots: 8 / 10
Shots on Goal: 2 / 3
Saves: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 7 / 13
Offsides: 3 / 0

Officials:
Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA)
Assistant 1: Danilo Mannis (BRA)
Assistant 2: Rodrigo Figueiredo (BRA)
Fourth Official: Dario Herrera (ARG)
VAR 1: Juan Soto (VEN)
VAR 2: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
VAR 3: Jerome Brisard (FRA)

Man of the Match: Malik Tillman