FIFA 2026 | 10-man USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Round of 16
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "FIFA 2026 | 10-man USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Round of 16")
10-man USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Round of 16 Photograph: (AFP)
Florian Balogun scored in 45th minute before being sent off in the 64th minute. USA, however, kept the pressure on and Malik Tillman scored another goal in 82nd minute.
USA keeping pace with the other co-hosts, Mexico and Canada, booked a place in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday (Jul 1) at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The co-hosts were one man down for last 30 minutes or so but still managed to come out triumphant and advance. For them, Florian Balogun scored in 45th minute before being sent off in the 64th minute. USA, however, kept the pressure on and Malik Tillman scored another goal in 82nd minute to ensure the victory.
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10-man USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Round of 16 Photograph: (AFP)
USA had less possession but more impact
During the match, Bosnia and Herzegovina had the possession of the ball longer than the USA and they made more passes as well but the USA had more impactful plays. Bosnia and Herzegovina kept the ball 52 per cent of the time and made 430 passes with 85 per cent accuracy. They also made 11 shots including four on target but could not score even one goal. Their 13 fouls also played a role in pressure building.
The USA, on the other hand, kept the ball for 48 per cent and made 399 passes, but with 87 per cent accuracy. The co-hosts also made two shots less than Bosnia but the two shots on target were good enough to find the net, giving them the winning lead.
How did coach react on win?
Speaking after booking the Round of 16 berth in home world cup, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino recounted his speech to players in hydration break: "We need to show that we are a team, that we are united."
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"That was the moment to show to everyone, and to show ourselves, that it is not only an empty word when we say that we are a 'family.'"
"I'm feeling so proud about the team. Very proud," he added. "No easy game in the World Cup -- you cannot find an easy game -- and I think today, in the way that we played, it is not only the victory. It's the way that we earned the victory that is so important."
USA had less possession but more impact
During the match, Bosnia and Herzegovina had the possession of the ball longer than the USA and they made more passes as well but the USA had more impactful plays. Bosnia and Herzegovina kept the ball 52 per cent of the time and made 430 passes with 85 per cent accuracy. They also made 11 shots including four on target but could not score even one goal. Their 13 fouls also played a role in pressure building.The USA, on the other hand, kept the ball for 48 per cent and made 399 passes, but with 87 per cent accuracy. The co-hosts also made two shots less than Bosnia but the two shots on target were good enough to find the net, giving them the winning lead.
How did coach react on win?
Speaking after booking the Round of 16 berth in home world cup, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino recounted his speech to players in hydration break: "We need to show that we are a team, that we are united."
"That was the moment to show to everyone, and to show ourselves, that it is not only an empty word when we say that we are a 'family.'"
"I'm feeling so proud about the team. Very proud," he added. "No easy game in the World Cup -- you cannot find an easy game -- and I think today, in the way that we played, it is not only the victory. It's the way that we earned the victory that is so important."
