10-man USA end 24-year wait with 2-0 knockout win over Bosnia at World Cup 2026

The United States men’s national team ended a 24-year wait for a World Cup knockout stage victory, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Wednesday to advance to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is only the second knockout stage win in USMNT history.

Folarin Balogun broke the deadlock in the 45th minute, putting the U.S. ahead after having an earlier effort ruled out for offside. The goal made Balogun the fifth American to score three goals at a World Cup, placing him alongside Landon Donovan, Bert Patenaude, Clint Dempsey, and Brian McBride.

The match turned on its head in the 64th minute when Balogun was sent off, leaving the United States to defend their lead with 10 men for the final half-hour. They did more than survive — midfielder Malik Tillman put the result beyond doubt with a clinical free kick in the 82nd minute to seal a composed and historic victory.

The last time the U.S. won a knockout match at a men’s World Cup was in 2002, when they beat Mexico 2-0 to reach the quarterfinals in South Korea. That 24-year gap spanned five tournaments, including a painful round-of-16 exit to Belgium in Brazil in 2014 — a match that now sets the stage for a direct rematch.

The USMNT will face Belgium in the round of 16 at Seattle Stadium on Monday, July 6, revisiting the fixture that ended their 2014 campaign in extra time. This time, they arrive as a side that has already shown they can win when it matters most.