USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

USA cruise through in second gear as Bosnia get stuck in neutral

A game of great contrast to the earlier barnstormer that was Belgium vs Senegal, but America once again proved their worth against a Bosnia side who didn't offer much, but still needed to be broken down nonetheless.

In actual fact, the Europeans might as well have flown home early and were outclassed and outfought in every area of the pitch. Perhaps that was best summed up by the period following Balogun's red card.

It was the dismissed who scored the opener before a stunning Tillman free kick wrapped it all up near the end to send the hosts cruising through once again.

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina as it happened

The USA quickly settled into a ball dominating rhythm and put Bosnia on the backfoot early doors. I say put them there, but we all know that's exactly where Bosnia's game plan would have put them anyway absent of America's influence.

It was Bosnia who managed the first chance, though. A goal kick pumped long was brought down perfectly by Edin Dzeko, he laid for Demirovic who saw his effort saved rather easily. The resulting corner proved a sterner test for Freese in the USA net, who had to be alert to parry clear as the in-swinging corner headed toward goal.

The hosts did have a couple of moments before the hydration break came, Folarin Balogun steered his effort wide after some rather astute movement in the box and an Antonee Robinson header which cleared the bar could be considered perhaps the most troubling of chances to the Bosnian backline.

Pochettino's men continued the pressure and had the ball in the net as the clock struck 31 minutes. A high press saw McKennie win the ball in the final third, Balogun received in space in the box and took on his man before firing a lovely effort into the bottom right corner. Alas, it was all in vain as the linesman's flag went up for offside.

It looked for all the world like the sides would go in to the break on level terms, but in the 45th minute, Balogun once again had the ball in the net, this time legally.

Tillman looked to find the Monaco forward with a through ball, only to see it diverted twice by lunging Bosnian bodies before it eventually found its intended target. Balogun swivelled on a sixpence before slotting away coolly in a similar fashion to his first. 1-0 Murica.

Balogun could and possibly should have made it two as well in added time, a slid ball into the box found him in space but his effort was lifted slightly too high and skimmed the top of the bar, in which was ultimately the last chance of the half.

Half time: USA 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

The opening of the second period was the exact opposite of what you want when writing a match report at 2am. I'm not sure if the Bosnian's quite realised that, if the game stayed as it was, they would be going out of the World Cup, but if they did, they certainly didn't look bothered.

But, just as those who had braved the late night were brainstorming ways to keep their eyes open, finally something of interest.

In the 63rd minute, a rather innocuous tussle for the ball between Balogun and Muharemovic left the latter writhing in agony on the floor. Upon watching the replay, it became clear that Balogun had, completely accidentally, stood right on the back of the Bosnian's achilles.

But, as is the way with VAR, the referee was referred to the monitor and saw a super slow motion replay of the challenge in which any person would have found it difficult not to award a red card - and that's exactly what he did.

Very, very harsh and unfortunate for Balogun, but it immediately changed the momentum with Bosnia having their first effort in a long time moments later, could we be in for a blockbuster finish to an otherwise timid game?

The answer was no, not even remotely.

Even with one less man, the USA found themselves with the ball in the net once again in the 77th minute. A lovely bit of interplay by Tillman and McKennie saw the ball fall to the feet of Pulisic who bundled the ball home from six yards out, but the flag went up immediately and the Lebron James of Soccer was a few yards offside.

Again, questions about whether Bosnia remebered it was knockout football resurfaced as, in the 81st minute, without the Europeans mustering barely a sniff of the American goal, USA made it 2-0.

A delightful free kick by Tillman, who was by far the best player on the pitch, dipped wonderfully over the towering wall. A hand from Vasilj could do nothing but parry the effort into his own net. Game over.

What followed was some rather petulant behaviour from the Bosnians, in which they had clearly thrown their toys out of the pram upon realising their journey in America was over.

A very unnecessary period of 10 minutes added on was as uneventful as it was always going to be and the game wound down into nothing more than a celebratory parade for the US before the full time whistle finally sounded.

Murica into the last 16 in their home World Cup... they couldn't, could they?

Full time: USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

USA player ratings

Freese - 5 (annoyed me with his roll about near the end)

Freeman - 7 Richards - 6 Ream - 7 Robinson - 6

Adams - 7 Dest - 6 McKennie - 8 Tillman - 9 Pulisic - 6

Balogun - 7 (yes I'm keeping him high, that red card was NOT his fault)

Subsitutes Berhalter (87') - 6 Pepi (87') - 6

Bosnia player ratings

Vasilj - 4

Dedic - 4 Katic - 5 Muharemovic - 6 Radeljic - 5 Kolasinac - 5

Gigovic - 5 Sunijc - 4 Alajbegovic - 6

Demirovic - 4 Dzeko - 5

Substitues Tahirovic (51') - 5 Mahmic (51') - 6 Bajraktarevic (51') - 4 Memic (75') - 5 Tabakovic (75') - 3 (could all have a 1 to be fair)

Man of the Match: Malik Tillman

Not even close for man of the match to be quite honest.

Tillman may have been given a run for his money had Balogun not been sent off, but ultimately the Bayer Leverkusen forward imposed himself on the game more than any other and was a creative spark throughout, even in the dull periods of the game.

An excellently taken free kick, could have had two assists on another day, definitely a player to watch in USA's round of 16 tie against Belgium.