The U.S. men's national team secured their place in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 with a decisive 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night. This win marks the American side's first knockout stage win in the tournament in 24 years.

The match, held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, was the U.S. team's highest-stakes game of the tournament so far. Their advancement comes after a strong performance in the group stage, where they finished with a 2-1 record, securing wins against Paraguay and Australia before a loss to Turkey.

Forward Folarin Balogun opened the scoring for the U.S. but was later shown a controversial red card in the 64th minute after an on-field clash, making him ineligible for the next match. Midfielder Malik Tillman extended the U.S. lead in the 82nd minute with a free-kick goal, sealing the victory.

With this loss, Bosnia-Herzegovina has been eliminated from the World Cup. The U.S. men's national team will now face Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6. The tournament has seen a number of dramatic matchups in the knockout stages, which began earlier this week.

This round of 32 clash was a critical step for the U.S. team in their quest to compete for the World Cup trophy, which will be awarded on July 19. The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, began with 48 teams, and now only 32 remain in the knockout phase.

Other results from the round of 32 include Belgium's 3-2 victory over Senegal and Mexico's advancement after defeating Ecuador. Earlier in the week, Brazil narrowly beat Japan 2-1, while Paraguay caused a significant upset by eliminating Germany on penalty kicks. Morocco also secured a spot in the next round by defeating the Netherlands.

The U.S. team's performance in the group stage, particularly their first-place finish, provided a strong foundation for their knockout round ambitions. Coach Mauricio Pochettino was seen celebrating the team's second goal, underscoring the significance of the win.

The path to the final is increasingly challenging, with a strong field of international competitors vying for the title. The U.S. team's next match against Belgium will be a key test of their capabilities as they progress deeper into the tournament.