World Cup Quarterfinals
USMNT Secures Quarterfinals Spot in 2026 FIFA World Cup, First Time Since 2002
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The United States Men's National Team made history on July 1, 2026, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The win advances the USMNT to the Round of 16 — their first World Cup knockout stage win in 24 years, since defeating Mexico in 2002. ESPN called it the team's first knockout win since that legendary run, a milestone that has eluded the U.S. in 2010, 2014, and 2022.
The victory came at a cost. Star striker Folarin Balogun scored the opening goal but was sent off in the 69th minute, leaving the U.S. with 10 men for the final 30 minutes. Midfielder Malik Tillman then stepped up and curled a free-kick into the net to seal the win, according to The Score. The USMNT now face Belgium in Seattle on July 6 — a rematch of the heartbreaking 2014 Round of 16 loss.
Balogun Scores, Then Gets Sent Off in Dramatic Second Half
Folarin Balogun had a match to remember — for good and bad reasons. He scored the opening goal in the 45th minute, finishing a cross from Sergino Dest, according to Metro Philadelphia. But a VAR review in the 69th minute caught a high-boot challenge, and the referee produced a red card. Balogun will now miss the Round of 16 against Belgium through suspension.
Playing a man down, Pochettino's squad held firm. Malik Tillman delivered the knockout blow in the 77th minute with a stunning free-kick from just outside the box, AMNY reported. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made two crucial late saves to preserve the clean sheet. The USMNT completed 90% of their passes and held 66% average possession — a tournament high for the squad.
Pochettino Breaks a 24-Year Knockout Curse on Home Soil
Before Tuesday night, the U.S. had not won a single World Cup knockout game since 2002. Losses in the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2014, plus a group-stage exit in 2022, had built a psychological wall around the team. AMNY noted this was the first time the USMNT has won a knockout-stage match on home soil in World Cup history.
Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino set the tone before the match, calling it "a World Cup final" in his pre-match press conference. He pushed back against the federation's "Never Chase Reality" marketing campaign, preferring a grounded, underdog mindset. The approach paid off. Levi's Stadium was filled to its 68,500-seat capacity, and the crowd provided a deafening home advantage throughout.
Bosnia's 40-Year-Old Legend Dzeko Couldn't Break Through
Bosnia entered the match with veteran striker Edin Dzeko leading the attack. At 40 years old, Dzeko was the primary threat U.S. analysts tracked, according to NY Post. He won physical duels and held up play, but the U.S. defensive shape kept him off the scoreboard. Wisconsin-born winger Esmir Bajraktarević also tested the U.S. backline late in the second half.
After going 2-0 down, Bosnia pushed hard in the final minutes. Matt Freese was forced into back-to-back saves against Bajraktarević and Ermedin Demirović. But the ten-man U.S. side held on. The clean sheet was the difference between a comfortable win and a nervy final whistle.
Belgium Looms: Balogun Out, Revenge on the Line
The USMNT's reward is a July 6 clash with Belgium in Seattle — a rematch of the 2014 World Cup Round of 16. In that match, Tim Howard made a record 16 saves before the U.S. fell 2-1 in extra time. This time, the U.S. come in as a different team, but they face a top-10 ranked Belgian side without their top scorer, NY Post reported.
With Balogun suspended, Pochettino must choose between Ricardo Pepi as a target striker or a "false nine" system to lead the attack. Christian Pulisic, who had a goal ruled out for offside against Bosnia, remains the creative fulcrum. The USMNT's first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002 is within reach — but Belgium will not make it easy.
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