What to know about USA’s Round of 32 opponent Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026 World Cup

After days of anticipation, the USMNT finally knows almot vertainky  who it will face when it trots on the field for the Round of 32.

The United States punched its ticket to the knockout stage quicker than most, surging to the top of Group D after wins over Paraguay and Australia. Mauricio Pochettino’s side will hope for a bit of home cooking when it returns to action following its tilt with Türkiye. Its foe, meanwhile, has already made national history with its displays thus far. Another standout showing could shoot the side into tournament lore.

Who will USA play next in World Cup?

The United States will almost assuredly take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first round of the knockout stages.

How good is Bosnia and Herzegovina at soccer?

Bosnia and Herzegovina has long punched above its weight on the pitch, producing myriad famed players, from Yugoslav stars Branko Stankovic and Safet Susic to contemporary talents like Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko. Bosnians and Herzegovinians anchored Yugoslavia's roster for seven decades, pockmarking the Adriatic Sharks' squad list as they qualified for the European Championship finals in 1960 and 1968 and earned a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics.

As an independent nation, Bosnia and Herzegovina have been solid if unspectacular. The Dragons have qualified for two World Cups in their history, the last of which came with a stunning penalty shootout defeat of Italy in UEFA qualifiers.

Bosnia and Herzegovina FIFA ranking

Bosnia and Herzegovina entered this year's tournament sat at No. 62 in FIFA's World Rankings. That was the seventh-worst mark by sides that qualified for this year's World Cup. The Dragons became one of the lowest-ranked teams to qualify for the knockout stages, falling just eight spots short of Russia, who earned a spot in the Round of 16 while ranked No. 70 in the world in 2018.

Who are Bosnia and Herzegovina's best players?

Dzeko and Sead Kolasinac are Bosnia and Herzegovina's ever-presents, continuing to lead in their respective positions despite their advanced age. Dzeko, long considered one of Europe's most underrated forwards, just keeps scoring at age 40 — he tallied six goals in 11 contests for Bundesliga 2 giant Schalke in 2025-26.

Bumping shoulders with the Dragons' elder statesmen are a collection of gifted youngster, spearheaded by Alajbegovic. The 18-year-old enjoyed a sterling first season with Austrian powerhouse RB Salzburg, tallying 13 goals in 44 appearances. A move to one of Europe's greatest powers appears on the horizon for the teenager, who was born in Germany but opted to represent the country of his parents' birth at international level.

Where is Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkan Peninsula, the country is bordered by Serbia to its east, Montenegro to its southeast, Croatia to its north and southwest and the Adriatic Sea to its south.

Citizens lived under Austro-Hungarian rule until after World War I, at which point it was incorporated into the nascent Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially recognized as a republic within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Following the 1992 breakup of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence. The country was formally granted independence in Nov. 1995 following the signing of the Dayton Accords, authored following the conclusion of the Bosnian War.

Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup history

As an independent nation, Bosnia and Herzegovina have qualified for two World Cups. Here's a look at its showings in its brief World Cup history up to now.