USMNT overcomes red card, advances to World Cup Round of 16 with impressive win over Bosnia-Herzegovina

The U.S. men’s national team might have only had 10 players for most of the second half, but that did not matter on Wednesday night.

Thanks to a goal at the end of each half, the USMNT rolled past Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2-0 at Levi’s Stadium, to move into the World Cup Round of 16.

The USMNT finally broke through in the 45th minute when Folarin Balogun broke the ice after he had a goal taken away earlier in the half due to an offside call.

But the U.S. played down a man in the second half after Balogun was called for a controversial red card in the 64th minute after he stepped on the foot and ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović.

Folarin Balogun scored the USMNT’s first goal on July 1, 2026. BENJAMIN FANJOY/EPA/Shutterstock

Malik Tillman scored the second goal for the U.S. off a free kick. FIFA via Getty Images

In the 83rd minute, the USMNT doubled the lead when Malik Tillman’s free kick from just outside the box was perfectly curled into the net past the diving goalkeeper, Nikola Vasilj.

The U.S. will next play Belgium, but will likely be without Balogun — unless an appeal is won.