---
title: "USA beat Bosnia to reach the World Cup last 16, despite Balogun red card"
description: "The United States, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the round of 16 — holding on with 10 men after Folarin Balogun scored the opener and was later sent off."
category: "Sports"
category_url: https://newsparlor.com/category/sports
author: "Jasmine Howard"
published: 2026-07-02T02:14:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-02T02:14:00.000Z
canonical: https://newsparlor.com/article/usa-beat-bosnia-to-reach-the-world-cup-last-16-despite-balogun-red-card
tags: ["world-cup-2026", "usmnt", "bosnia-and-herzegovina", "soccer", "folarin-balogun"]
---
# USA beat Bosnia to reach the World Cup last 16, despite Balogun red card

The United States, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the round of 16 — holding on with 10 men after Folarin Balogun scored the opener and was later sent off.

The United States are through to the knockout rounds of their home World Cup, seeing off Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in a match they finished a man down.

## Balogun's mixed night

Folarin Balogun put the hosts ahead just before halftime, finishing to make it 1-0, [ESPN reported](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49243703/usa-folarin-balogun-red-card-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-2026). But the striker's evening turned in the 64th minute, when he was shown a red card following a review for a challenge on a Bosnia defender, reducing the United States to 10 men for the closing half-hour.

Rather than retreat, the Americans saw the game out and added a second: Malik Tillman struck from a free kick late on to make it 2-0 and settle the tie, [as CNN reported](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/01/sport/live-news/world-cup-usa-bosnia-herzegovina-score). To score and be sent off in the same knockout match is a rare double, and it left Balogun both the hero and, briefly, the villain of the night.

## A knockout barrier cleared

The win carries weight for a US team playing under intense scrutiny at a tournament on home soil. It is the United States' first World Cup knockout victory since 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals — ending a run of first-round exits from the knockout stage in the tournaments since.

For a squad that has faced questions about whether it could deliver on the big stage, advancing in front of home crowds is a significant step, even if the manner of it — clinging on with 10 men — was more nervy than commanding.

## Belgium next

The reward is a demanding one. The United States advance to the round of 16, where they will face Belgium — a side that themselves came from 2-0 down to beat Senegal in extra time. Balogun, having been sent off, will be suspended for that match, a notable loss given his goals at the tournament.

As co-hosts, the Americans will again have the backing of a home crowd. Whether that, and a squad missing its in-form striker, is enough against a talented Belgium team will be the next test of a World Cup run that has already outlasted many expectations.

## Sources

- [USA's Folarin Balogun sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49243703/usa-folarin-balogun-red-card-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-2026)
- [USA beats Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance, will play Belgium](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/01/sport/live-news/world-cup-usa-bosnia-herzegovina-score)