Team USA advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The US men’s national soccer team advanced to the Round of 16, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2-0, on Wednesday night in Santa Clara, California.
It is the second time in Team USA history that they have won in the playoffs. One of them came in 2002 when they beat Mexico, 2-0, in the round of 16.
Now, the USMNT will return to Seattle to face Belgium, who came back from a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the second half to win in overtime, in the Round of 16.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
Usually, when the USMNT enters the knockout stages of the World Cup, they are considered underdogs, hoping to be scrapped to force an upset. This time, in the extended format of the tournament starting in the round of 32, the country on home soil was the heavy favorite.
Their play proved why, even when they struggled in the second half.
It was a poor start for the USMNT after Bosnia and Herzegovina conceded a couple of corners, and goalkeeper Matt Freese, who has yet to be challenged much at the World Cup, had to make a save to save a goal kick.
USA WORLD CUP CAPTAIN, FOLARIN BALOGUN RECEIVED A RED CARD THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A 32ND GAME
From there, however, the USMNT went to work in the first half, taking control of the game. It seemed that there was still some time before they scored, and Falorin Balogun, who has had a great competition in goalscoring, served as a striker when he received a deflected pass and put it into the net in the 29th minute.
However, the side referee threw his flag in the air – offsides. Video replays showed that Balogun was off, and there was not much argument from head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his sideline staff on this.
Folarin Balogun of the United States scores his team’s first goal past Nikola Vasilj #1 of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Balogun had another chance in stoppage time, and this time, he was onside and still dangerous.
As the Bosnia and Herzegovina defenders piled on him, Balogun turned and put his left foot on the ball just inside the opponent’s box and it slipped into the keeper’s legs for the first goal of the game.
The raucous American crowd went wild, and Balogun celebrated with an ode to LeBron James, making his signature move as his teammates congratulated him on his third World Cup goal.
But in the second half there was a big moment in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s favor when Balogun was shown a red card after a VAR review ruled that following a foul where he stepped on a defender’s ankle. It was a controversial call that turned the tide of the game with the USMNT down to 10 men against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 11 men.
And, despite the hard-fought victory, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 due to the decision, a clear loss for the US.
Malik Tillman of the United States celebrates after scoring a free kick during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The red card came in the 64th minute, and the USMNT had to “suffer,” as FOX Sports color analyst Stu Holden said during the broadcast, to pull out a one-goal victory. Although they should have defended with more determination, the USMNT still created scoring chances despite their situation.
Another was called when Christian Pulisic scored, but he was offside. But Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Stjepan Radelijic tackled Sergiño Dest just outside the box, forcing the referee to issue a yellow card and give the USMNT a chance to pull away in the 80th minute.
In came Malik Tillman, the German-born son of a US military veteran, who scored a magnificent free kick, dipping past a wall of five players in front of the net and past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Folarin Balogun (20) of the United States and Christian Pulisic (10) of the United States pose after Balogun received a red card during the World Cup 32nd round soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS PROGRAM
The goal put the US up 2-0, and the momentum Bosnia and Herzegovina had following Balogun’s red card decision was erased. They made desperate attempts to get back into the game, but the US slammed the door shut to the satisfaction of a sellout crowd at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and millions watching at home.
There will be debates about how the US will deal with the loss of Balogun in the next round, but the job was done in this match where the home favorites kept their title hopes alive.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle.
