U.S. beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0
to advance to round of 16 and keep its World Cup dreams alive
[July 02, 2026]
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Malik Tillman stepped up for a free kick
with a bloody sock and a new right boot after being stepped on by an
opponent as the United States scrambled to protect a one-goal lead,
down a man in a World Cup knockout round.
Tillman delivered the goal of his life, and one of the biggest ever
by a U.S. man at the World Cup, sending this American soccer
fairytale into the round of 16.
“I’ve been dreaming about this game," Tillman said after scoring the
final goal in a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
“I’ve been dreaming about maybe taking a free kick and scoring a
free kick. I’ve practiced this in training and I think today I
showed what I can do.”
The round of 32 win set up a Monday matchup in Seattle against
Belgium as the U.S. hopes to make a deep run on home soil. The Red
Devils beat the Americans 2-1 in extra time at 2014's round of 16.
“It’s about to keep dreaming,” said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino,
who belted out “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as it played over the
public-address system after 10 minutes of stoppage time. “In
football all is possible if you believe.”
Folarin Balogun put the Americans ahead in the 45th minute with his
third goal of the World Cup, then was sent off in the 64th for a red
card.
Star Christian Pulisic had a goal disallowed for offside in the
78th, and Tillman helped seal the win when he curled in a free kick
that got over the wall and on target from just outside the box in
the 82nd. The ball went off diving goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj’s right
hand and in despite the pain in Tillman's bloody right foot from
being stepped on.
Balogun dominated the first half and scored in the 45th minute. The
Americans had to scramble after his foul for awkwardly stepping on
Tarik Muharemovic and preserved the shutout despite playing
short-handed for more than 30 minutes.
“It felt so comfortable, even down to 10 men,” captain Tim Ream
said. “That’s the way you want to feel. You don’t want to have that
panic set in. You want have that calm and focus and we had that.”
Pochettino became the first U.S. coach with three World Cup
victories, and the Americans gained just their second World Cup
knockout round win. They made it to the semifinals in the first
tournament in 1930 by winning their group and won a round of 16
matchup against Mexico in 2002.
Balogun leads the U.S. with three goals, but will miss the Belgium
match because of an automatic suspension for the red card, assessed
by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after a video review. Balogun
stepped on an ankle of Tarik Muharemovic, apparently not
intentionally.
“Obviously the ref made a decision that he made, but I think it’s
questionable,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I think there’s
been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other
players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”
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Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States'
Folarin Balogun, right, 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/Julio Cortez)
Balogun matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the
second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert
Patenaude’s four in 1930.
“Of course he’s a great player," Tillman said. "We have great
players who can replace him, and give the best they can, and
hopefully score some nice goals as well.”
The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the
U.S. against European teams dating to a tie against England in the
2022 World Cup. The Americans had lost seven games and tied six
against European nations in World Cup play since beating Portugal in
their 2002 opener.
The U.S. had started fast in the group stage matches by scoring in
the first 15 minutes of all three games but it was Bosnia that had
the better chances early. Matt Freese needed to make two saves early
to stop Ermedin Demirovic following a deceptive goal kick that
caught the U.S. defense napping and then again on the ensuing corner
kick that Kerim Alajbegovic almost scored on directly.
Balogun took over from there. He had an apparent 31st-minute goal
called off for offside and was knocked down in the box on two other
opportunities before finally delivering. Ream intercepted a Bosnia
goal kick at midfield and passed to Tyler Adams, who flicked to
Tillman. The ball, with the help of an errant Bosnian clearance
attempt and a deflection, found Balogun in the box. Balogun slid the
left-footed shot past Vasilj.
Balogun punctuated the goal with his version of the LeBron James
Silencer celebration, drawing a positive reaction from King James
himself.
Balogun nearly scored again in first-half stoppage time but his shot
from in close deflected off the crossbar and out of play.
Bosnia’s second World Cup trip was a success with a draw against
Canada in the opener and a win over Qatar that helped the team
advance to the knockout round for the first time. But it ended in
disappointment.
“We had our moments after the red card,” Vasilj said. “You could
feel that there was something. The only thing that was missing was a
goal. And then in the worst moment, out of nothing, I would say, a
free kick and we conceded a second goal. After that it was really
difficult.”
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