The United States men’s national team will face World Cup debutants Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on 1 July, marking the start of what could be a daunting knockout path for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
The fixture takes place at 8pm ET in Santa Clara, with the Americans aiming to capitalise on their status as tournament hosts. Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their place in the knockout stages by finishing third in Group B, achieving a historic first-ever qualification for this phase of the competition.
Bosnia’s historic run
Sergej Barbarez’s squad have already made history by reaching the Round of 32, and they arrive with a formidable reputation in penalty shootouts. The team defeated both Wales and Italy from the spot during the qualification play-offs, a record that suggests the US will want to avoid a stalemate.
The Bosnian side combines experience with emerging talent. Striker Edin Džeko remains influential at 40 years old, while winger Kerim Alajbegović, 22 years his junior, has demonstrated his potential by scoring in the 3-1 victory over Qatar that confirmed their third-place finish. The Americans possess superior individual quality and greater fluidity in possession, though Bosnia’s physical approach and set-piece threat offer a clear danger.
The road ahead
Should the US prevail, they face a progressively challenging route to the final. A victory would likely set up a last-16 encounter with Belgium on 6 July in Seattle. The Belgians topped Group G with a 5-1 win over New Zealand, though questions remain about their consistency following tepid displays against Egypt and Iraq.
Belgium hold a psychological advantage from a 5-2 friendly victory over the US in Atlanta just three months ago, when Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku both found the net. However, both sides fielded understrength line-ups in that match, and Pochettino’s team dominated possession.
A quarter-final against Spain potentially awaits on 10 July in Los Angeles. The European champions and tournament second-favourites remain heavily reliant on 18-year-old Lamine Yamal for creative inspiration. Luis de la Fuente’s side have shown vulnerability, managing only a goalless draw against Cape Verde and securing a narrow 1-0 win over Uruguay in the group stage.
The semi-finals could bring a meeting with France on 14 July in Dallas. Didier Deschamps’ team impressed during the group phase, defeating Norway 4-1 despite defensive lapses that allowed an immediate second-half reply after France established a 2-0 lead. An in-form Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun could test French defensive organisation, particularly if afforded the attacking freedom that characterised the US demolition of Paraguay.
Pochettino’s philosophy
The Argentine manager has instilled a belief system centred on collective ambition. “When people believe in each other, impossible dreams become possible,” Pochettino has stated, encapsulating the mentality required should the hosts navigate this formidable sequence of fixtures.
The expanded 48-team format has created unusual knockout pairings, but the US route represents one of the tournament’s most demanding potential pathways. Victory against Bosnia would provide crucial momentum, yet the quality of likely subsequent opponents Belgium, Spain and France underlines the scale of the challenge facing the host nation.