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The United States secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a determined 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite playing more than 25 minutes with 10 men. Folarin Balogun gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, but his evening took a dramatic turn when he was shown a straight red card in the second half following a VAR review for a challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemović.
Reduced to 10 players, the Americans displayed resilience to hold off Bosnia before Malik Tillman sealed the victory with a superb free-kick in the 82nd minute. The result marked the United States’ first men’s World Cup knockout-stage victory since 2002 and only their second-ever win in the tournament’s knockout rounds. Balogun’s goal was his third of the competition, but his dismissal means he is expected to miss the Round of 16 clash against Belgium due to suspension.
The victory keeps alive the United States’ hopes of a deep run on home soil, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino praising his team’s determination under difficult circumstances. However, the controversial red card has sparked widespread debate, with some analysts arguing that the VAR decision was harsh and questioning whether the incident warranted a straight dismissal. The Americans will now prepare for a tough Round of 16 encounter against Belgium without one of their key attacking players.
