The United States advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup with an eventful 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday despite finishing the match with 10 men.
Folarin Balogun scored the opening goal in the 45th minute, sliding the ball under the Bosnian goalkeeper after a wayward pass into the penalty area deflected off two defenders and fell right into his path.
But Balogun was then shown a straight red card in the 64th minute for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic.
Instead of sitting back and hanging on while playing down one man, the U.S. actually doubled its lead through a Malik Tillman free-kick in the 82nd minute. The Americans defended resolutely from there to claim the win and advance to the next round.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will now take on Belgium in the round of 16. That match will be played July 6 in Seattle (8 p.m. ET). Belgium beat the United States 5-2 in a pretournament friendly in March.
Balogun, who has now scored five goals in his last six competitive matches for the USMNT, will be suspended for the game against the Red Devils after his red card.
Balogun is just the fourth player ever to score a goal and get a red card in the same World Cup knockout match, joining Zinedine Zidane (2006 – final), Ronaldinho (2002 – quarterfinals), and Garrincha (1962 – semifinals).
Wednesday’s victory was only the second World Cup knockout win in USMNT history, and first since the famed “Dos a Cero” triumph over rival Mexico in 2002. The U.S. finished third in the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 1930, but that 13-team tournament went directly from the group stage to the semifinals; the Americans lost in the semis to Argentina.
Going into the game against Bosnia, the U.S. had won just one of its last 21 World Cup meetings against European opposition (seven draws, 13 losses).
But the Americans quickly took control of Wednesday’s contest, with Bosnia’s only real sights of goal coming from direct long balls or set pieces. Pochettino, who reverted back to the same lineup that started the tournament opener, said he was “so proud” of the team’s response after going down to 10 men.
“The players deserve everything,” Pochettino, who became the winningest World Cup manager in USMNT history with the victory, told Jenny Taft of FOX Sports after the match.
“It’s amazing to live (this) experience,” added the Argentine, who pumped his fists and sang along to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” with the crowd in San Francisco after the win.
The United States’ victory means all three co-hosts for this summer’s tournament – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico – have advanced to the last 16.
