USA Survive Balogun Red Card to Dump Bosnia Out of World Cup

• The United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the World Cup Round of 16 despite finishing the match with 10 men.

The United States have booked their place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, setting up a mouthwatering knockout clash against Belgium.

The Americans dominated proceedings for much of the encounter and secured the victory despite playing with 10 men for a large portion of the second half.

Folarin Balogun gave the hosts the lead just before halftime, finishing brilliantly in the 44th minute. However, the striker’s night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when he was shown a straight red card after a VAR review ruled that he had dangerously stepped on the ankle of a Bosnian defender.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the United States refused to sit back and doubled their lead through a stunning free-kick from Malik Tillman, sealing a deserved victory and passage into the knockout stage.

The win sets up a highly anticipated Round of 16 showdown against Belgium—the same nation that eliminated the United States from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after an extra-time thriller.

Bosnia’s exit also sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many football fans mocking Italy, who failed to qualify for the tournament after losing to Bosnia in the European qualifying playoffs.