After the best World Cup group-stage start since 1930, the US Men's National Team (USMNT) begins the next, more daunting phase of the tournament: the knockout rounds. The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup sees the first knockout round being the Round of 32. The USMNT takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, in a win-or-go-home matchup.
The USA's group stage was historic, and now they look to make more history in this game. The Yanks have not won a knockout-round game in 24 years, back when legend Landon Donovan was a 20-year-old emerging on the scene at the 2002 World Cup. The stars might just be aligning for the USMNT to get that win.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the "weakest" teams that made the knockout rounds. They are ranked 64th in the FIFA world rankings (compared to the USA's 17th) and won just one game at this World Cup against a very poor Qatar team. Some former USA players-turned-pundits have said this will be an easy game, but they may be forgetting the stakes of a knockout match.
There's no doubt the USA is a better team on paper, but these knockout games are always a bit nervy. Sometimes teams will play differently than they did in the group stage, knowing one mistake could be the reason their nation is knocked out of the tournament. That usually helps the underdogs play more freely. Will that happen in this matchup? We'll know inside the first 22 minutes, when the first hydration break happens.
The USA will want to avoid the safe/afraid tactics some teams utilize in knockout games, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino will make sure of that. His style of play utilizes quick movement, pressing the opposition without the ball, and playing with directness to create chances on goal with it. The USMNT has scored within 11 minutes in all three games at this World Cup; another quick start like that will likely sink Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Because the USA had qualified for this game with one group-stage game still to play, they were able to rest their starters and get star player Christian Pulisic back to full fitness. The best XI players are rested and ready to give their all, not to mention those who were on the verge of a yellow-card suspension, who have that reset in the knockout rounds.
Projected USA Starting XI vs Bosnia & Herzegovina. Formation: 3-4-2-1
GK: Freese
CB: Ream CB: Richards CB: Freeman
LWB: A. Robinson CM: Tillman CM: Adams RWB: Dest
AM: Pulisic AM: McKennie
ST: Balogun
Just because Bosnia and Herzegovina are not the strongest team doesn't mean they will be pushovers in this match. Sergej Barbarez's team is compact and, first and foremost, defensive-minded. After they frustrate opponents, they look to hit out on the counterattack using speed on the wings and a veteran captain and striker, Edin Dzeko, who is older than the nation he represents. They will look to stifle the USA's early attacks and build into the game the longer it stays 0-0.
USA-born Esmir Bajraktarevic is a key player for Bosnia and Herzegovina's chances. His speed and creative spark down the right wing are what this team looks to use to shock the USA. If Bosnia and Herzegovina pushes the USA, or somehow beats them, the former New England Revolution player may just be the main reason why.
Projected Bosnia & Herzegovina Starting XI vs USA. Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Vasilji
LB: Malic CB: Katic CB: Radeljic RB: Kolasinac
LM: Bajraktarevic CM: Sunjic CM: Basic RM: Alajbegovic
The USMNT has not won a knockout round in 24 years, and another pressing issue is that they have not fared well against European teams over the last four years. Back in the 2022 World Cup, the USA made the knockout rounds and played the Netherlands, losing in a less-than-inspiring match. That loss began a 10-game losing streak against European sides. If the USA wants to win a knockout round match, they'll have to break that streak as well.
The opportunity is there for these USA players to etch their names into the history books. The USMNT has won just one knockout-round game ever, back in 2002, in the Round of 16, a Dos-a-Cero win over Mexico. If these guys can come out and get a win, they will raise the stakes for soccer in this country. A win would see the USA advance to the Round of 16 and take on either Belgium or Senegal, a much sterner test of their quality.
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