7/2/2026

USA 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0

The US played Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco in the round of 32 at the World Cup. The match started out with the Stars and Stripes on their heels giving up a corner 3 minutes into the match.

The US defense had to step up again in the 11th minute when a corner taken by B&H was put on frame. Matt Freese was able to make the save to keep the match scoreless. 

The US thought they took the lead in the 31st when Weston McKinney found Florian Balogun who hit the back of the net but after review was offside.

Balogun struck again in the 45th minute. Malik Tillman sent a pass into the box that deflected off to defenders and right to Balogun who’s low shot went through the keeper’s legs for the 1-0 US lead.

Late in the first half stoppage time Balogun got another chance on a nice pass from Sergino Dest but skimmed off the crossbar. Shortly after the halftime whistle blew with the US leading 1-0.

Halftime USA 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0

Early in the 2nd half Zmajevi’s 40 years old captain Edin Dzeko pulled up injured and had to be subbed off. After he went off B&H had to find a new way to attack.

Disaster for the USMNT in the 64th minute after a collision on the field and a VAR review Florian Balogun was sent off with a direct red card. Baffling all the commentators and pretty much anyone that had watched the match to that point.

Although the US was down a man, their attack kept coming. Christian Pulisic had a goal called back for being offside in the 78th on another setup pass by Tillman. 

In the 82nd minute Malik Tillman took a perfect freekick from just outside the penalty area. It bent over the wall and just inside the near post right by a diving Nikola Vasilj.

Late in the match Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Amar Memic caught Freese off his line but Chris Richards was there to make the stop and secure the 2-0 win for the US.

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With the win they will face a familiar opponent in Belgium who came back to beat Senegal 3-2. The two teams played a friendly in March with Belgium winning 5-2. They have also met in the round of 16 before back in 2014 Belgium also won that match 2-1. 

The US is looking to make it to the quarterfinals for the 3rd time in the World Cup. The last US knockout round win was back in 2002 when they beat Mexico 2-0. They made the quarters in the initial World Cup in Uruguay way back in 1930 where they took home 3rd place.

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