USA relaxed but wary as Bosnia threaten to end 12-match winless run against Europeans

The United States face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in a 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 tie at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium that carries the full weight of a generation’s ambitions — yet the mood inside the American camp has been anything but tense.

At a training session on Tuesday at PayPal Park, home of MLS side San Jose Earthquakes, Weston McKennie was playfully taunting Tyler Adams while even the normally reserved Christian Pulisic joined in the laughter. Coach Mauricio Pochettino offered the explanation at Monday’s pre-match press conference: “Relaxation brings concentration” — a phrase he attributed to Real Madrid legend and 1986 World Cup winner Jorge Valdano.

The stakes, however, are enormous. The USA topped Group D and won their opening two World Cup matches for the first time in nearly a century, stoking expectations that a so-called Golden Generation led by Pulisic, McKennie and Adams can go deep on home soil. Many supporters are already looking past Bosnia to a potential round of 16 meeting with Belgium or Senegal in Seattle, or a quarterfinal against Spain, Portugal or Croatia.

Pochettino has consistently pushed back against complacency, repeatedly asking his squad and the country’s growing fan base: “Why not us?” But one stubborn statistic cuts through the optimism. The United States have not beaten a European side in their last 12 attempts, a run stretching back to 2021 that includes six losses under Pochettino himself.

Bosnian opposition is not to be taken lightly, and the consequences of an early exit are stark. A defeat on Wednesday would transform the narrative of the tournament — for a team hosting the World Cup — from historic success to historic failure almost overnight.

Defender Chris Richards acknowledged the pressure while refusing to be consumed by it. “We try not to think worst-case scenario,” he said on Monday. “For us, ultimately it’s going to this game with confidence, but also understanding that things don’t always go your way. So let’s make sure you’re prepared for everything.”

Kickoff is at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.