10-man USA keeps World Cup dream alive, sends Bosnia to last 16

The United States kept their World Cup dream alive with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday to book a place in the last 16 despite playing the closing stages with 10 men. Folarin Balogun put the co-hosts ahead before being sent off, but Malik Tillman put the result beyond doubt with a superb late free-kick as the Americans showed their guts to see the game out.

The win sends the Americans into the round of 16, where they face Belgium on July 6 in Seattle, and keeps alive hopes of matching or bettering their memorable quarterfinal run in 2002.

USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS

The United States earned their first knockout win at the World Cup since 2002, but it was far from easy after Balogun, who broke the deadlock just before halftime, was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute.

Matt Freese made three saves to record his second clean sheet of the tournament as the home crowd roared the co-hosts over the line.

Bosnia and Herzegovina played in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time and got off to a great start. Freese was forced into saves by Ermedin Demirovic and Kerim Alajbegovic after a corner as the visitors threatened to take the lead.

The Americans gradually settled into the match and began to dominate possession. Christian Pulisic thought he had broken the deadlock in the 78th minute but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Before that, the pressure was definitely on for the home side in the break in the first half. A defensive mix-up saw the ball bounce off Tarik Muharemovic into Balogun’s path and the striker reacted quickest to stop, turn onto his left foot and calmly slide past the keeper for his third goal of the tournament.

Balogun almost doubled the advantage moments later when he tipped Sergino Desta’s pass onto the crossbar.

The match turned in the 64th minute when Balogun was sent off after a challenge from Muharemovic. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue but was called to the pitch monitor where he changed the decision to a straight red card after seeing Balogun’s studs catch the defender high on the ankle.

With over 25 minutes remaining, Bosnia and Herzegovina sensed an opportunity and sent more players forward. The United States were pushed deeper into their own half but defended with discipline, limiting the visitors to a few open spaces despite their numerical disadvantage.

Bosnia captain Edin Dzek’s night ended earlier in the second half after the 40-year-old limped off with a leg injury. Esmir Bajraktarevic, who was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and made one appearance for the United States in 2024 before switching allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina, started against his former national team.

Any nerves in the stadium disappeared in the 82nd minute when Tillman created the decisive moment. After Stjepan Radeljic was penalized for pulling Desta just outside the area, Tillman curled a superb free-kick over the wall and into the top corner to double the lead and seal the result.

Pochettino named the same starting XI that beat Paraguay 4-1 in the opener, with Pulisic keeping his place after recovering from the calf injury that ruled him out against Australia and limited him to a substitute appearance against Turkey in the Group D final.

The United States will now face Belgium for a place in the quarterfinals, although they will be without Balogun, whose exclusion is the only disappointment for the co-hosts on an otherwise memorable night.

Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

Jul 02, 2026 07:51 IST