Game is over and the final score is United States 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina. Here is the match report.
2026 World Cup
2-0
Match Report:
Malik Tillman's stunning free-kick ensured 10-man United States made it through to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Folarin Balogun had put the USA in front before the break before receiving a straight red card midway through the second half, but the co-hosts had enough to set up a meeting with Belgium in the next round.
Bosnia-Herzegovina made a bright start, with Ermedin Demirovic firing straight at Matt Freese, who then had to scramble to punch Kerim Alajbegovic's corner off the line.
Balogun thought he had broken the deadlock 31 minutes in; Weston McKennie played him through on goal and the striker's shot nestled into the bottom-right corner, but he had strayed just offside.
He made sure his next chance counted in the 45th minute, though, getting a stroke of luck as Tillman's pass deflected to him, and he slotted his effort under Nikola Vasilj.
Balogun could have had a second eight minutes into first-half stoppage time, but he could only flick Sergino Dest's downward header onto the top of the crossbar.
After a slow start to the second half, the game burst back into life 64 minutes in, with Balogun again at the centre of the action. He challenged Tarik Muharemovic from behind, inadvertently catching him with his studs and standing on the defender's twisting ankle, with the referee brandishing a straight red card following a VAR review.
Christian Pulisic bundled the ball into the net after a lovely, flowing move from the USA 14 minutes later, but once more, the flag came to Bosnia-Herzegovina's rescue.
However, that reprieve did not last long as Stjepan Radeljic was penalised for pulling back Dest, and Tillman brilliantly curled his free-kick over the wall and in at the near post despite Vasilj getting a touch on it.
Bosnia-Herzegovina attempted a very late rally, but Ermin Mahmic dragged a shot wide of either post deep in stoppage time as they crashed out of the World Cup.
FOUND A WAY THROUGH! pic.twitter.com/bZBjTcZyW2
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) July 2, 2026
Tillman comes up with the goods after Balogun goes from hero to zero
Balogun is the first player to score a goal and receive a red card in a World Cup knockout match since Zinedine Zidane against Italy in the 2006 final.
However, his goal played a big part in the USA getting through to the last 16. He is the third player to score three or more goals in a single edition of the World Cup for the USA after Bert Patenaude (four in 1930) and Landon Donovan (three in 2010).
Despite their numerical disadvantage in the later stages, the USA have ended a long wait. This is the first time since 2002 they have won a knockout-round match, with that also a 2-0 win (against Mexico in the round of 16).
Tillman added the insurance the USA needed late on, becoming the second player from the nation on record (since 1966) to score a direct free-kick at the World Cup after Eric Wynalda v Switzerland in 1994.
He ensured Mauricio Pochettino's men racked up their third win of the tournament so far - it is the most victories the USA have managed in a single edition of the competition.
For the most part, it was a match that lacked quality in front of goal, though the USA scored with both of their shots on target. Bosnia-Herzegovina, playing in the knockout stages for the first time, finished with more shots (10 to eight), but their 0.25 expected goals (xG) reflected their struggles to truly test Freese.
Line-ups
United States XI: Tim Ream, Adams, Antonee Robinson, Pulisic, McKennie, Matt Freese, Dest, Chris Richards, Balogun, Malik Tillman, Alex Freeman
Subs: Álex Zendejas, Haji Wright, Matt Turner, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson, Timothy Weah, Joe Scally, Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi, Sebastian Berhalter, Chris Brady, Max Arfsten
Bosnia-Herzegovina XI: Dzeko, Kolasinac, Ivan Šunjić, Nikola Vasilj, Stjepan Radeljic, Nikola Katic, Ermedin Demirovic, Amar Dedić, Armin Gigovic, Tarik Muharemović, Kerim Alajbegovic
Subs: Haris Tabakovic, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Burnic, Nihad Mujakic, Martin Zlomislic, Jovo Lukić, Ivan Basic, Benjamin Tahirović, Samed Bazdar, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Arjan Malic, Amar Memić, Ermin Mahmic, Mladen Jurkas