The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is currently leading Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match. The game is being held at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Folarin Balogun scored the opening goal for the U.S. just before halftime, breaking a deadlock that saw only one shot on target prior to his score.
The match kicked off at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. The winner of this encounter is set to face Belgium in Seattle, following Belgium’s victory over Senegal.
First Half Action
The first half saw a dynamic contest, with the USMNT pressing and creating opportunities. Balogun had an earlier goal disallowed for offside, but his persistent threat paid off in the 45th minute. His goal came after the U.S. midfield applied pressure, forcing errors from the Bosnian defense, which allowed Balogun to sweep the ball into the net. This crucial goal provided the U.S. with a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Before the goal, the U.S. had a promising free kick earned by Balogun, though his shot went wide. Bosnia also showed signs of danger on the counterattack and through clever set pieces, though the U.S. defense managed to handle these threats. The tempo of the game was noted, with Bosnia attempting to slow it down and frustrate the U.S. players.
Midfielder Tyler Adams received treatment after a 50-50 challenge just after the restart, but he appeared able to continue playing. The half concluded with some heated exchanges between players from both sides as they left the pitch.
USMNT Lineup and Player Milestones
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made significant changes to the lineup for this critical match, with 10 alterations from the previous game against Türkiye. This marks a new USMNT World Cup record for changes in a lineup. Weston McKennie is the only player to retain his starting position, as Pochettino opted for the same lineup that secured a 4-1 victory against Paraguay in the group stage on June 12 in Los Angeles.
The starting XI features Matt Freese (24), Sergiño Dest (2), Chris Richards (3), Tyler Adams (4), Antonee Robinson (5), Weston McKennie (8), Christian Pulisic (10), Tim Ream (13, Captain), Alex Freeman (16), Malik Tillman (17), and Folarin Balogun (20).
Christian Pulisic, who came off the bench in the 58th minute in the last match, returns to the starting lineup, making his third appearance and second start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Weston McKennie’s inclusion means he has started all eight matches for the U.S. in the last two FIFA World Cups, joining a select group of six USMNT players to achieve eight consecutive World Cup starts, including Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey.
Sergiño Dest also made his eighth career World Cup appearance, tying him with players like Marcelo Balboa and Michael Bradley for 10th on the USMNT’s all-time World Cup caps list. Alex Freeman, at 21 years old, becomes the ninth player under the age of 22 to start for the USMNT in a World Cup Knockout Round match. Freeman, along with Malik Tillman, Dest, and McKennie, are making their fourth appearance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tim Ream is captaining the USMNT for the 32nd time, placing him sixth all-time on the captains list. This appearance is his 85th, tying him with Frankie Hejduk and Bruce Murray for 23rd on the USMNT’s all-time caps list. Six players in the current lineup also started in the USA’s last World Cup Knockout Round match against the Netherlands on December 3, 2022, in Qatar: Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson.
The starting lineup averages 48 caps overall and 27 caps in official competitions, with an average age of 27 years, 146 days. Mark McKenzie and Cristian Roldan are not available for this match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The match is available for fans to watch on FOX, Telemundo, and Peacock, with radio coverage provided by Fútbol de Primera.
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Source: ussoccer.com
