US Shows Resilience
US Men's Team Secures World Cup Victory Over Bosnia Despite Balogun Red Card
The United States men's national team beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on July 1 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California — ending a 24-year wait for a knockout-stage win Al Jazeera. Folarin Balogun scored the opener in the 45th minute, then was sent off in the 64th minute after a VAR review, leaving the US to hold on with 10 men for more than 30 minutes Sports Illustrated.
The victory sends the US into the Round of 16 against Belgium on July 6 in Seattle. It also places Balogun on one of the rarest lists in soccer history — joining Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Garrincha as the only players ever to score and get sent off in a World Cup knockout match beIN SPORTS.
Balogun Joins Zidane and Ronaldinho on Historic List
Balogun's goal came just before halftime. Weston McKennie played him through, and Balogun rolled the ball under goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj for his third goal of the tournament CBS News. Then, in the 61st minute, a collision with Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic led to a VAR check. Three minutes later, referee Raphael Claus showed Balogun a straight red card for "serious foul play" — a ruling that "endangered the safety of an opponent" under Law 12 Sports Illustrated.
Balogun now joins Garrincha (1962 semifinal), Ronaldinho (2002 quarterfinal), and Zinedine Zidane (2006 final) as the only players to do it in a knockout game in 96 years of World Cup history beIN SPORTS. He will miss the Round of 16 due to an automatic one-game suspension Transfermarkt.
A Hotly Debated Red Card With Two Clear Sides
The decision split analysts sharply. FOX Sports analyst Mark Clattenburg said the collision "lacks force and intensity to create that red card" and called it a freak accident Sports Illustrated. ESPN's Taylor Twellman posted that the referee had "completely lost the plot." Many US-based outlets framed it as a failure of VAR to account for the physics of an accidental landing.
On the other side, officiating analysts argued the red card was correct. Transfermarkt wrote that "intent is irrelevant" when a player's action endangers an opponent — and pointed to Muharemovic's rolled ankle as proof of danger. Muharemovic stayed on the field but needed medical treatment after the hit.
Ten-Man USA Shows Tactical Maturity to See Game Out
Down a man for 35 minutes, the US did not panic. They held a tight defensive block and kept Bosnia from creating clear chances. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was "so proud of all my players" and that the team had to "dig deep" The Guardian. Captain Christian Pulisic said during the hydration break after the red card: "This is what it takes to be a really strong team" beIN SPORTS.
Substitute Malik Tillman sealed the win in the 82nd minute, curling a free kick from 19 yards into the top corner The Guardian. Ten minutes of stoppage time followed, but Bosnia never seriously threatened. The US finished with an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.57 for Balogun alone Transfermarkt, and held a squad market value of €385.65m compared to Bosnia's €146.40m.
First Knockout Win in 24 Years Sets Up Belgium Clash
The last time the US men won a World Cup knockout game was in 2002 — also 2-0, also against Mexico CBS News. This win snapped a 10-game winless streak against European teams in World Cup play, a drought stretching back to 2022. The match was played 20 miles from Stanford Stadium, where the US lost 1-0 to Brazil in the 1994 knockouts — a full-circle moment for American soccer.
Next up is Belgium in Seattle on July 6. Belgium advanced with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Senegal Al Jazeera. The US will go in without Balogun, their top scorer. But after holding firm with 10 men in front of 68,827 fans, CNN noted the win revealed "something about the USA that can't be taken away" — a new level of composure and belief.
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