10-man USA keep World Cup dream alive, send Bosnia packing to reach last 16

Malik Tillman spared the United States an anxious finish with a sublime late free-kick as the co-hosts defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup Round of 16, despite playing the final stages with 10 men after Folarin Balogun's dismissal.

In Short

• The United States reached the World Cup round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia
• Folarin Balogun gave the co-hosts the lead before being sent off
• USA will now face Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals

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

The victory sends the Americans into the Round of 16, where Belgium await in Seattle on July 6, and keeps alive hopes of matching or even bettering their memorable run to the quarter-finals in 2002.

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, FIFA World Cup: HIGHLIGHTS

The United States earned their first World Cup knockout victory since 2002, but it was far from straightforward after Balogun, who broke the deadlock just before half-time, 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 were playing in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time and started brightly. Freese was forced into back-to-back saves from Ermedin Demirovic and Kerim Alajbegovic after an early corner as the visitors threatened to take the lead.

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

Before that, the hosts had finally made their pressure count in first-half stoppage time. A defensive mix-up saw the ball ricochet off Tarik Muharemovic into Balogun's path, and the striker reacted quickest, stopping, turning onto his left foot and calmly sliding the ball through the goalkeeper's legs for his third goal of the tournament.

Balogun almost doubled the advantage moments later when he crashed Sergino Dest's pass against the crossbar.

The game turned in the 64th minute when Balogun was sent off following a challenge on Muharemovic. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue but was called to the pitchside monitor, where he upgraded the decision to a straight red card after seeing Balogun's studs catch the defender high on the ankle.

With more than 25 minutes remaining, Bosnia and Herzegovina sensed an opportunity and committed more players forward. The United States were forced deeper into their own half but defended with discipline, restricting the visitors to few clear openings despite their numerical disadvantage.

Bosnian captain Edin Dzeko's evening had already 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, came on against his former national team.

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

Pochettino had named the same starting XI that beat Paraguay 4-1 in the opening match, with Pulisic retaining 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 finale.

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

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