The United States host Bosnia Herzegovina in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 tie at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on 2 July 2026, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16. It's the USA's first home knockout fixture since 1994 and Bosnia's first knockout appearance full stop, having gone out in the group stage in 2014 and it's also their first competitive meeting. The USA topped Group D, beating Paraguay and Australia before a rotated side went down 3-2 to Türkiye in the final game. Bosnia scraped through as one of the best third-placed teams: a draw with Canada and a loss to Switzerland made the early going difficult but a 3-1 win over Qatar got them through. The USA sit around 17th in the FIFA rankings and Bosnia around 64th and the home crowd at a packed Levi's Stadium makes the hosts heavy favourites. Bosnia's four goals in three group games came from exactly two sources, Dzeko headers and transitions and both travel to Santa Clara.
Mauricio Pochettino and Sergej Barbarez have never faced each other as managers. Pochettino's setup is well documented: the fullbacks push aggressively, the press is triggered by the opposition's centre backs dropping and McKennie typically drops to allow them forward. Barbarez, who took the Bosnia job in April 2024, deploys Dzeko as a pure target man, with the shape built to get the ball to him quickly under aerial duels and in transition.
The USA opened the tournament well, scoring early against both Paraguay and Australia before the Türkiye defeat in a rotated lineup and under Pochettino the pressing has become instinctive rather than coached, visible in how quickly the team reorganises after losing the ball. Bosnia were less fluent but arguably tougher, absorbing a loss to Switzerland and grinding out a draw with Canada before turning it on against Qatar when they had to. Their qualifying run included a result against Italy that confirmed they can hold a defensive shape when the occasion demands it.
Christian Pulisic returns to the starting lineup after managing a calf problem that kept him peripheral against Australia and Türkiye, while Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Chris Richards are all expected back in the squad, giving the USA close to full strength. Cristian Roldan, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty are all questionable but none are expected to start. Bosnia have a concern at right back, where Amar Dedic is doubtful and Amar Memic looks set to cover, while Tarik Muharemović is available again after serving a ban.
Pochettino's side tend to build down the right, using overloads involving Alex Freeman or Sergiño Dest alongside Weston McKennie to get in behind deep defensive blocks and with a home crowd behind them and Pulisic fit again, the early pressing tempo will be high and Bosnia's compact 4-4-2 will take some punishment in the opening stages. They'll be happy to absorb that and play through Dzeko as a target man, with Kerim Alajbegović providing the direct running in behind. The right sided overload against Sead Kolašinac and Alajbegović on Bosnia's left is probably the most interesting tactical contest on the pitch, with Pulisic and Balogun both likely to arrive into those areas from crosses and cutbacks. At the other end, Dzeko's hold up play and aerial presence will test Richards, Tim Ream and Miles Robinson throughout.
Bosnia's most likely route back into the game runs through Dzeko at set pieces and their delivery is good enough to test Richards and Ream at corners and free kicks. The USA's press and the atmosphere at Levi's should generate early chances and there are no significant suspensions on either side.
USA 2-1 Bosnia Herzegovina. Pulisic's return and the right sided overload against Kolašinac give the USA enough to win this without needing a perfect night. Dzeko will get at least one set piece opportunity and with Memic covering for Dedic at right back, that flank is the most obvious place the USA will target if the first goal doesn't come through the overload. Bosnia are just good enough to nick one, which is why 2-1 feels right rather than a more comfortable margin.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
