Happy Game Day America so can US win the World Cup? Well Ron Burgundy says we can win, one thing I love about our team – This US team represents US. Captain Puli says Yes we can do it look how far we have come – if we can just continue this run. Tim Howard believes – Chris Richard loves teaming with Tim Ream. What a good time we had in LA, Pregame/postgame with the Fox set. We are in San Fran now with flights to Seattle scheduled if we win.
The World Cup Across this great land of ours. One last Tart Army Spain’s thanks to the heartland, Gooool Mexico, Paraguay Celebrates, the Norway Row takes over the country, how Norway’s ‘Viking Row’ was made, and then took over the World Cup, Swifties Unite – Taylor Swift was a baller, celebrities have caught on,
USA hosts Bosnia in San Fran Wed 8 pm on Fox (coverage starts 6 pm)
So the US men slipped up and lost at the last second to Turkey on Friday – a 2-3 loss where we gave up a goal in the last 30 seconds of the game. Again this was a game that did not matter – its why Poch changed 9 starters including all 5 defenders & the GK in this game. Pulisic came on late in the 2nd and had a huge impact -though he couldn’t find the net. Again I think all we proved in the end – is if our starting defenders or Tyler Adam’s goes down are in BIG trouble. I still think our true keys to advancing is not Balogun or Pulisic or McKennie – its Crystal Palace man Chris Richards in the centerback slot. He stays healthy (has injured ligaments in his ankle from late in the season) and we have a legit chance to advance to the Quarter Finals. The path if we can win – looks as good as it ever has. If the US can get by Bosnia to the Sweet 16 like Canada & Mexico – we have a chance with an aging Belgium in the way in the Rd of 16 in Seattle. Now on to Bosnia –
Bosnia comes into the match having drawn Canada, losing to Switzerland, and soundly beating Qatar. They needed a win and a draw at least to get out of the group and they find themselves one of the third place teams to advance in the tournament. They follow the tried and true World Cup strategy of being compact and well organized defensively, eschewing possession, and bypassing their opponents’ press in favor of going straight up the field on counter attack to the goal.
So here’s my line-up for the big game Wed — back to the starting line-up that was so powerful vs Turkey (that team who beat Germany to advance to the Sweet 16 – I told you they were good! ) So for this game — I think the US will not score early – but Pulisic will put in a goal — and the US will score two goals while Bosnia scores just 1 and we survive & advance.
World Cup Notes
Erling Halland & the Row advancing to the Semi’s for the first time ever.
Following The US Men – Ole Ballcoach Road Trip across the West
I prefer to remember our 2nd team’s game vs Turkey’s A team with that score rather than the 3-2 last second winner they had.
TV Schedule – Games on TV
Weds, July 1
9 am Fox England vs Congo DR
1 pm FS1 Belgium vs Senegal (Mane)
5pm Fox USA vs Bosnia & Herzergovina
Thur, July 2
12N pm Fox Spain (Lamal) vs Austria
4 pm Fox Portugal (Renaldo) vs Croatia (Modric)
8 pm FS1 Switzerland vs Algeria
Friday, July 3rd
11 am Fox Australia vs Egypt (Salah)
3 pm Fox Argentina (Messi) vs Cape Verde
5 pm Victory Washington Spirit (Rodman) vs Houston NWSL
6:30 pm Fox Colombia vs Ghana
7 pm Prime Angel City vs Orlando Pride NWSL
Saturday, July 4 (Sweet 16)
10 am Fox Canada vs Morocco
2 pm Fox Paraguay vs France
3:30 pm ION NC Courage vs Seattle Reign (NWSL)
5:45 pm ION San Diego Wave vs Gothan FC
Sun, July 5th
1 pm Fox Brazil (Neymar) vs Norway (Haaland)
5 pm Fox Mexico vs ??
Mon, July 6 pm
12N pm
5 pm Fox USA vs Belgium??
World Cup Printable Schedule
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Quick Take US vs Turkey
SA versus Turkey result was difficult, but it was a good match for us to analyze.
First, Turkey is an incredible team. We are so result oriented in soccer that sometimes we forget how good a team truly is.
Take Turkey for example: a side that shot the ball 62 times and scored 0, a FIFA World Cup record. Was that due to poor management? No. Was that due to bad players? No. Was that due to bad finishing? Yes, but also very good goalkeeping and effort by the opposing teams.
Turkey is truly a team capable of finishing top 4. We know this from their experiences in European competitions, their previous World Cup, and their roster full of marquee players like we saw tonight. This team is very reminiscent of our 2006 team, except they dominated all their group stage matches except the one against us.
Which leads me to point number two: we actually played well as a group, but very poorly in some areas.
Yes, stats do not tell the whole story, but when you watch our match and re-watch it, you see how close we were on so many occasions to extend the lead even further. From an attacking perspective, we did not lose a step minus a few players and the finishing.
Now, I take a different approach with Gio Reyna than some of you because I thought he played well and made some really good passes. I know he did not score, and there were a few one-on-one opportunities he could have taken against his defender, but I was comfortable every time the ball landed at his feet. His ability to make the correct decisions was higher than any other forward.
But of course, the star of the night was Sebastian Berhalter. This man bleeds red, white, and blue and showed it on the field tonight. We know there is a split between MLS good and MLS bad in the fan base, but at the end of the day, we just want good players who care. He showed this. We have been looking for a set-piece mastermind for years and every time we went to the corner flag, he was truly a threat. There were probably four goals we could have scored all set up by him. And his goal was spectacular. So, we added another reliable player to our list.
Ricardo Pepi did not make a strong case as a goal scorer. I was disappointed with his dribbling speed, but I was very encouraged by his tracking back. We should not underestimate our opponents, but I am very certain that if the likely draws happen, his speed will be enough in those matches to make him a goalscroing threat until the Quarter-finals. But the amount of times he came back to provide just some pressure was very good. Still, I would have rather seen Haji Wright, a hometown native who I think is undervalued and does have a World Cup goal in limited minutes. I believe that Haji Wright would have done much better in attack. I do not know about defense though. Still, Pepi has shown enough to deserve the second spot with his performances against Senegal in the friendly and Australia in matchday 2 in Seattle.
Brenden Aaronson was wasteful in his shots, should have scored, and was not as fast as usual. And Tim Weah was terrible on the night. But, these two have shown much more before. I am not sure what the issue was, I just know what I saw was not good, and I think most would agree. Nevertheless, there were positives to take away from Aaronson and part of goalscoring is being in the correct position to take the shot which he was in.
When it comes to midfield and defense, which of course Berhalter was a key part of again, I was impressed by Weston McKennie. McKennie showed speed and was in so many places at once. Perhaps the only negative was that he wanted to score so badly at times that he put himself out of position. Same could be said about Berhalter throughout the match.
Joe Scally showed good pace going forwards and made some good decisions. He did not particularly have a strong night defensively. I know he kept blaming his center back partner on the right which maybe he was correct in doing, but at a certain point you too need to adjust in game. I think he played better at the end, so maybe this is good news for the knockout rounds.
Miles Robinson was not at his best. I am concerned about him because it felt like he was out of position all the time and slow to react and move, similar to Tim Weah. I know his abilities, and I know a good game by him would have helped us win against Turkey, but a bad game leads to a side scoring 3 goals on practically 5 true opportunities.
Mark McKenzie was not very impressive either. Usually, center backs are supposed to be the best defenders on the ball, but there were times where he would be in position, with speed no longer being a threat, but he would still be beaten toward goal. I know he is capable of more, but last night was not good enough.
Auston Trusty had a magnificent goal and his ability to rise above the defense for headers is extremely valuable and he should have had another goal. But, his defense was more of a mixed bag. This is partly because he was going forward so often so I believe that the next match he plays in during this World Cup will be improved because it appeared more of a fitness issue than an abilities issue. And not that he has a fitness issue, more so that he just has not played enough like the starters.
The subs did contribute some good play.
Christian Pulisic looked like himself out there and brought a lot of energy to the match. He had a few opportunities he could have finished, but overall his speed going forward and tracking back was what we needed throughout the whole match. Unfortunately, he was outplayed defensively on the last goal against, but that is a good learning experience for him in the future rounds.
Alex Zendejas looked good while in for cleaning up some weak points in our team. He needs to be more of a threat going forward, but I felt he made the team better once in. However, he appears to have that starter’s mentality whereby he gets going with time. As a sub, he needs to get going faster or else he will risk playing time. Conversely, if a match goes into extra time, I believe Zendejas would be a great substitution because he would last past the 120 minute mark.
Sergiño Dest was not as much of a threat in the attack as I had hoped he would be. I really thought once on, him and Christian would lead us to victory, but he did not hold up his end of the bargain. Defensively he seemed his usual self.
Alex Freeman was good defensively and showcased his speed to get back, which others on the team did not possess. But, whenever you come in late into the match and a goal is scored, it looks bad, and he will have to analyze his positioning because against other teams and even other players, speed will not always bail you out. I am thinking of Edin Džeko.
Malik Tillman did well when he first came on. A little more was expected, and again, a goal scored so late does not instill confidence in the team when you are brought in for your energy and abilities. Both he and Freeman did not have their best nights in the key moments at the end, which usually they do. Some say soccer is a game of moments and usually these two are very good in moments so I am not concerned going forward.
Lastly, our goalkeeper Matt Turner will not remember this match fondly. Whether it was his fault on the goals or not is not really the point, rather it is the fact that on four shots on target, three went in. I liked his activity in the middle of the match to go after crosses and passes deep into the box and his abilities to lead break aways into the attack with heads up passing both from his hands and feet. It was not all bad and perhaps he was put into a difficult game due to poor defense. Still, being a World Cup goalkeeper requires going above and beyond, as we have seen with other goalies far less talented than Matt Turner this year.
Mauricio Pochettino had a good match managing. I think his lineups were fine and his substitutions improved the match. He pushed for the win which was good and his strategy showcased us as the better side. Where I felt he went wrong was three things. First, it may have been better to start Matt Freese because he needed more practice saving shots.
Two, if he was truly trying to win, taking Gio Reyna off lowered our threat potential as Gio was the one making the key passes to Christian toward the end there.
And three, we still do not know how good Haji Wright is. Is he someone we can count on when we need a goal? I understand why Chris Brady did not play due to being the third choice goalkeeper and why Christian Roldan did not play due to injury, but we need more depth and Haji Wright could be that “super sub” we need to score. We have not seen him enough in World Cup matchplay to know going back to 2022. It seems unjustified that a player who scores a World Cup goal in very little minutes played, leads a Championship side to The FA Cup Semi-finals, and then leads them to promotion to the Premier League never gets minutes. Maybe there is something we do not know. But, for a player who probably knew Turkey better than anyone out there due to playing in their league, it was perplexing.
As for Max Arfsten, he may be disappointed to not have played against Turkey, but he should be happy in that he did not lower his stock when it comes to how confident fans are of him. He should stay ready because World Cups bring unlikely scenarios. And if we had known how certain players would play, Arfsten may have been chosen instead.
Overall, our team did well against a very good nation. We were unlucky to lose, and even unlucky not to win. Our second unit in defense and goalkeeping needs vast improvements, and whatever Tim Weah and Brenden Aaronson were eating, drinking, or whatever was wrong with them needs to be figured out fast because on a usual day, they would have been really good and we probably would have won.
But, now learning experiences go out the window. We are the host nation and a win is expected every time we go onto the field. We absolutely need to get our third win for this to be successful. A Round of 16 appearance should not be applauded unless contexts change (so a fourth win is necessary at the least). Simply put, we cannot 2010 this opportunity in front of us. Already you can see momentum leaving the casual fan base. Yet similar to the result against Germany, I feel this result can propel us to new highs. The only difference is that our casual fan base knows how good Germany is, but does not quite understand how talented Turkey is. So, the people who truly care and those who will be in Santa Clara need to elevate that hype so the players feel confidence like they did playing Paraguay.
The next match is extremely winnable and this is coming from someone who has watched Bosnia and Herzegovina my whole life. But, to win, finishing is necessary! We do not want to rely on a 1-0 win or even worse, penalty shootouts! Bosnia and Herzegovina know how to win even when they should not. They are that type of team. So, we need to score on our chances.
US MEN
2026 World Cup: Previewing USA vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina – It’s all on the line
2026 World Cup: Scouting Bosnia and Herzegovina
https://www.si.com/soccer/how-the-usmnt-plans-to-defeat-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-round-of-32
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USMNT vs. Bosnia World Cup mega-preview: Predictions, odds, must-reads and more
By Dean Jones, Tom Bogert and Charlie Davies
July 1, 2026 Updated 10:00 am EDT
The moment the U.S. men’s national team has built toward is here: The knockout stage of World Cup 2026.The USMNT hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., for a ticket to the round of 16. The U.S. topped Group D, convincingly beating Paraguay and Australia, while Bosnia finished third in Group B after a win over Qatar on the final day of the group stage.The U.S. lost its final group game to Turkey, but with the group already wrapped up, Mauricio Pochettino had made wholesale changes to his lineup. The good news is star forward Christian Pulisic made his return from a calf injury off the bench, playing more than 30 minutes. On Tuesday, Pulisic assured the media he’s ready to go from the start, with no limitations.Bosnia is led by legendary forward Edin Džeko, who, at 40, remains a key part of their attack. Around him are talented wingers Esmir Bajraktarević and Kerim Alajbegović. Bajraktarević was born in the United States and represented U.S. youth national teams and earned one senior cap before switching to represent Bosnia. He scored the game-winning penalty against Italy to send his country to the World Cup during qualifying playoffs in March.The U.S. was eliminated in the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar. It needs a win on Wednesday night to at least equal that finish — but the team has ambitions for much more. Here’s a closer look at Wednesday night’s match:
What you need to know about the matchup
Round of 32: United States (FIFA ranking 17) vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (FIFA ranking 64)
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara, Calif.
Date: Wednesday, July 1
Kick-off: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
U.S. pathway: Winners of World Cup Group D: Two wins vs Paraguay and Australia, one loss to Turkey.
Bosnia pathway: Qualified for the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Group B record: One tie with Canada, one defeat to Switzerland, one win vs. Qatar.
Edin Džeko remains a key in Bosnia’s attack as it prepares to face the United States in the round of 32.Jane Gershovich / ISI Photos / Getty Images
Staff predictions
Paul Tenorio: U.S. 2, Bosnia 1 – We have seen that these knockout games are mostly tight affairs. The U.S. will be in control and build a two-goal lead, but have some nervy moments when Bosnia pulls one back. Ultimately, the home crowd will help push them through to the round of 16.
Henry Bushnell: U.S. 3, Bosnia 1 – The U.S. will come out flying, just like against Paraguay in the opener, and steamroll Bosnia. Maybe there won’t be four goals this time, and maybe Bosnia will put up more of a fight, but it feels like another convincing victory.
Tom Bogert: U.S. 2, Bosnia 1 – There is legitimate worry this game has “1-1 draw but Bosnia wins on penalties” written all over it … but the U.S. was rampant against Paraguay and Australia. I’m expecting more of that against Bosnia.
Charlie Davies: This game is perfect for… Antonee Robinson
It’s a great game for wide players. Bosnia looks to play through theirs to generate chances. If the U.S. can pin back those wingers, they’ll have to work so hard that by the 60th minute, they’ll be exhausted when it’s time to transition. For the U.S., the emphasis will be on continuing to use the high press and width to breach Bosnia’s deep defence. A 4-4-2 is difficult to break down centrally, but once it’s pinned back, it demands constant running from the outside midfielders. The U.S. overloads both flanks with Alex Freeman and Sergiño Dest on one side and Pulisic and Antonee Robinson on the other, making it extremely difficult to defend if Bosnia’s communication isn’t perfect. I also notice the space between their back line and midfield can become too large. Players are forced wide, leaving big central pockets. When the back line drops, Pulisic and Weston McKennie have plenty of options. Qatar found opportunities in those areas, which should give the U.S. confidence. Robinson has always had the athleticism. Over the past couple of seasons, his decision-making has caught up. He knows when to make long runs or put pressure on, and which cross he should play. He understands where he can make an impact and expose weaknesses.He’s on the precipice of being world class. I could see him becoming one of the top left backs in Serie A or La Liga, and this is his opportunity to elevate himself into that category. If he does that, I wouldn’t expect him to remain at Fulham beyond August.
The circumstances could be ripe for Antonee Robinson (5) to have a big game vs. BosniaKeith Birmingham / MediaNews Group / Pasadena Star-News / Getty Images
Odds
The Americans were favored in every match in the group stage and that continues against Bosnia. On both DraftKings and FanDuel, the United States is -750 (2-to-15) to advance, which implies the Americans have nearly a 90 percent chance of moving on to the final 16.
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For context, only Argentina, England, Spain and France were bigger favorites in this round. Even in regulation, the Americans are priced between -265 and -280 to win, which implies a greater than 70 percent chance. As far as we can find the betting numbers on, this is only the second time the U.S. has been favored in a knockout match in a World Cup, the first being 2010 vs. Ghana. That was nearly a toss-up. This is not. The U.S. doesn’t have a long history of knockout matches (this is the ninth ever) and the Americans have been a significant underdog in most of them. Not this time around.
If U.S. beats Bosnia it will be because…
They replicate—or create a loose facsimile of—the performance from the U.S.’s 4-1 win over Paraguay. Even more than the final scoreline suggests, it was a complete domination, especially in the first half.
The USMNT’s press suffocated Paraguay, while the American back line grew increasingly aggressive as the first half wore on, completely pinning Paraguay in its defensive third. They could not string passes together, either losing possession almost immediately or resorting to hopeful clearances for only brief moments of relief. Pulisic and Folarin Balogun have developed strong attacking chemistry, while midfielders McKennie and Malik Tillman are intelligent and relentless with their off-ball movement. Those qualities are where the U.S. can win this game, creating wide overloads on the right through Dest and McKennie, then exploiting the left with Pulisic and Robinson.Set pieces play an outsized role in knockout-round matches. Bosnia is dangerous from dead-ball situations, including on long throws. Limiting those opportunities will be crucial, as will finding an early goal, just as the U.S. did in both of its group-stage victories. The longer Bosnia keeps the match level, the more pressure shifts onto the U.S.Why everyone will (finally) be watching the U.S. knockout game
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If U.S. draws it will be because…
Bosnia defends in a compact, well-organized shape, then picks its moments to break forward with purpose, particularly through Bajraktarević and Alajbegović. If those transitions don’t materialize, this team are still dangerous from set pieces, especially if Džeko is on the pitch.Bosnia will not be an easy opponent—no knockout-round match at the World Cup ever is. It held Canada to a draw in their tournament opener in front of a raucous home crowd and won’t be intimidated by whatever home-field advantage Levi’s Stadium can generate.Bosnia has conceded more than one goal just once in its last 10 matches, a stretch that includes games against Italy, Wales, Canada and Austria. A draw in the knockout stage will send the game to penalties, where Bosnia is more than comfortable after winning consecutive shootouts in the UEFA qualifying playoffs.
If U.S. loses it will be because…
Any given day, right? The U.S. is a heavy favorite, but that’s the beauty of sport: anything can happen.The path to a Bosnia upset is straightforward. It capitalizes on its transition and set-piece opportunities while delivering a near-flawless defensive performance.“Bosnia is a very competitive, aggressive and physical team, who also has good organization and a very good coach,” Pochettino said. “You see the games they played in the group stage or in March for qualification, they have quality.”At this World Cup, goalkeepers from underdog teams have repeatedly earned points for their sides. Nikola Vasilj will have to play a major role if Bosnia is to get a result.“Bosnia are here because they deserve to be here,” Pochettino said. “For us, it’s full respect.”The U.S. attack will need to be clinical to break down Bosnia’s defense and ultimately find a breakthrough on Wednesday night.
Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest are all expected to start for the USMNT vs. BosniaSarah Stier / FIFA / Getty Images
Key injuries
Star man Pulisic has been dealing with a calf issue but is in the frame to start for the first time since the opening game of the tournament, and says he is ready to last the duration of the game—whether that is 90 minutes or even 120 minutes if it goes to extra time. There are no major injury concerns among the other expected starters, either. Auston Trusty, who scored in the Turkey game, has an ankle problem but should be included as a substitute. There are doubts around the availability of Mark McKenzie, who has a foot irritation, and Cristian Roldan, who has a muscle strain. Tyler Adams, Balogun, Chris Richards, and Robinson were all left out of the Turkey game due to a risk of suspension, but now come back into the fold after yellow cards were wiped following the group stage.
Predicted lineups
United States (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, A Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Pulisic; Balogun.
Bosnia (4-4-2): Vasilj; Dedić, Katić, Muharemović, Kolašinac; Bajraktarević, Šunjić, Bašić, Alajbegović; Džeko, Demirović
Match referee
Raphael Claus of Brazil will be the match official. He is one of South America’s most experienced referees, having also officiated at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América, and Copa Libertadores. His assistants are fellow Brazilians, Danilo Manis and Rodrigo Figueiredo, while the fourth official is Dario Herrera from Argentina.
Schedule and TV information
USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara: July 1, 10 p.m ET on Fox (English) and Telemundo, Peacock (Spanish)
Next U.S. match (if advanced)
Round of 16 vs. Belgium or Senegal in Seattle: July 6 on Fox (English) and Telemundo, Peacock (Spanish)
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World Cup: One big question for every round-of-16 team
Ryan O’HanlonJun 30, 2026, 03:53 PM ET
After the first four round-of-32 games in World Cup history, I think we were all asking the same question:
What?!?!?!?
Just like we all predicted, the first four teams through to the round of 16 are Brazil … Canada, Paraguay and Morocco. Germany lost a shootout for the first time in World Cup history. The Netherlands also lost a shootout — and OK, fine, they always do that, but the forebears of Total Football played a game where they had only 32% possession, their lowest for any World Cup game on record. Also: Canada are currently the only team in World Cup history with a perfect, 100% win rate in knockout-round matches.
With its 20-something shots per game and its two or three goals, soccer is random enough as is, but introducing an extra single-elimination round to the World Cup has added another layer of volatility to the world’s greatest sporting event. The chaos is likely to continue, but even if it doesn’t: we’re still only four games into this thing, and four games isn’t close to enough match time for us to produce any kind of confident conclusions about who is left.
So, we’re going to go a little deeper than the collective “what?” that you probably could’ve heard from outer space right after Morocco forward Ismael Saibari’s penalty hit the back of the net. We’re going to pinpoint the biggest question for each team that qualifies for the round of 16, and we’ll be updating this page as more teams qualify, with the most recently qualified teams listed at the top.
All numbers come courtesy of the stats app Futi or Stats Perform data, unless otherwise noted. All projections cited come from Michael Caley’s PADDLIN’ model.
Morocco
The big question: Will they keep this up?
Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, that is an incredibly weak “big” question. And sure, fine, whatever: you could say that about any other team, too. The other ones will be better, I promise. But I’m struggling here because Morocco have been excellent in all four matches so far. If Morocco keep playing like they’ve played so far, then Zohran Mamdani is going to be right again: they absolutely can win the World Cup.
I can’t really think of a better are-they-good stress-test than this: Morocco have straight-up outplayed both the Netherlands and Brazil already, producing a 25-to-18 shot margin across those two matches and controlling about two-thirds of the final-third possession.
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Pick whatever part of the game you want, and they’ve shown us they can do it: They can build from the back, they can break you down with high possession, they can counterattack at speed, and they held the Dutch to six shots and just 0.24 expected goals across 120 minutes.
The only lingering doubt in my mind, then, is … should these players be this good? This team has lots of top-level talent, but Achraf Hakimi is the only real star on the roster, and he’s a fullback. No one else is a consistent contributor to one of the top club teams in Europe. Bilal El Khannous, Noussair Mazraoui, Ismael Saibari and Azzedine Ounahi have been among the best players in the tournament, but no one would’ve tagged them as such before it started.
International soccer is a different game than what we see in England and Spain every weekend, though. It’s simpler, different spaces appear, and certain skill sets become more valuable.
And sometimes? A collection of players and coaches happen to fit together just so — skill sets amplify, rather than overlap — that they produce something well beyond the sum of their parts.
Paraguay
The big question: Can they keep scoring first?
There really aren’t any questions about what to expect from Paraguay. They’re an excellent defensive team. They’re not going to try to do anything other than sit back, play on the counter and sneak a goal or two from set plays. If they’re allowed to do that, then well, why don’t you ask Türkiye and Germany about what it’s like to play against them?Can Paraguay cause problems in the Round of 16?Paraguay have made 718 low defensive actions so far — essentially, defensive interventions in their own half — while no other team had made more than 478 through the first four games of the round of 32. That is, in large part, by design.Of course, you can’t just sit back and counter if you’re losing — as we saw when the Paraguayans got obliterated by the USMNT after conceding an own goal in the seventh minute of their opening match of the tournament. Their low-block defending is good enough to frustrate anyone, but it’s really hard to see them going any further if they ever go behind.
Brazil
The big question: Uh, what’s the plan here, guys?
While it took until injury time to take the lead over Japan, Brazil were totally dominant in the second half. They took 11 shots to Japan’s one, controlled 80% of the final-third possession and ultimately deserved the victory.
The bigger the circle, the higher the expected-goal value of the attempt:
It’s just that … well, there was a first half to the game, too. The collection of chances were roughly even across the first 45 minutes, and Japan went into the breakup 1-0.So what changed? The Brazilians finally broke free from the system-obsessed tactical shackles created by European club soccer’s global dominance and freestyled their way to a victory.Nicol: Brazil have ‘too many problems’ to be contendersJust kidding: they simply smashed the ball into the box over and over and over again until they broke through. Carlo Ancelotti’s team attempted 40 crosses against Japan, Brazil’s third most ever in a World Cup match since 1960. And 70% of those crosses came in the second half.In both of their matches against competent, well-coached opposition — Japan, and the opener against Morocco — Brazil struggled badly in the first half before Ancelotti made some subs and the team’s individual talent eventually got something from both games. Japan’s three best players were injured for Monday’s match, and they just ran out of steam in the second half.But what happens once the Brazilians meet up with an organized side that also has superstar attacking talent? We’re going to find out next round.
Canada
The big question: Can Alphonso Davies play for more than 20 minutes?
Hutchison: Canada have to have positive approach to Round of 16 match
From a tactical standpoint, we know exactly what Canada are going to do: play like a team funded by an international energy drink conglomerate.
Most teams fall into one of two camps: press high and control the game with possession or sit back and counterattack. Except for his current Canada, and all of the Red Bull teams Jesse Marsch managed in the past. No, they both press high and play incredibly aggressively as soon as they win the ball back.
As measured by passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA), Canada are one of the 10-most-aggressive pressing teams in the tournament. And yet, they’re also moving the ball upfield at a rate of 1.85 meters per second — by far the fastest rate of any team in the tournament. No one else ranks in the top 10 of both metrics.
And so the ceiling for Canada here is defined by something quite simple: How much will the greatest player in the history of their country actually play? Davies reinjured his hamstring while playing for Bayern Munich in early May, and he’s only featured in 22 total minutes so far this summer. He’s the one Canadian player who can break a game open all by himself.
Bosnia: Tough, smart and led by an ex-poker pro. Here is how the USMNT can win
Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez played poker professionally for 10 years after retiring as a player Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
By Conor O’NeillJune 30, 2026 3:25 pm EDT
Underestimate Bosnia and Herzegovina at your peril.The United States’ World Cup round-of-32 opponent is among the supposedly less impressive teams to emerge from the group stage, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side need only ask Italy about the dangers of taking it lightly.When Bosnia beat Wales away on penalties in March to set up a qualification play-off final against the four-time World Cup winners a few days later, Italy’s players were filmed celebrating — clearly viewing it as the easier opponent. Now, after another shootout win, Italy is watching this tournament from home as Bosnia’s North American adventure rolls on.
Pochettino will be guarded against similar complacency for the match at Levi’s Stadium, south of San Francisco, on Wednesday (early Thursday UK time), affording it the respect of detailed analysis and a tailored tactical planIn the opposite dugout will be Sergej Barbarez, appointed in 2024 to what was his first coaching job at any level. A 54-year-old former Borussia Dortmund striker who spent a decade playing professional poker after retiring, he knows a thing or two about strategy.Here, The Athletic breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of his tactical approach and explains how the USMNT might find a way past Bosnia to reach the World Cup’s last 16.
USMNT prepares for Bosnia knockout m
Bosnia is not the most glamorous side to watch. It struggles to dominate games, averaging 44 per cent possession across the three group stage games (the Americans were at 60 per cent). Nor does it create many chances, with just four shots inside the penalty area per match compared to the United States’ 12.
Expected goals, or xG, is a statistical metric that measures chance quality, giving each shot a value between zero and one, based on its likelihood of going in. Bosnia have generated just 1.87 xG, the second-lowest total among the teams to reach the knockouts (Paraguay are bottom).
That bluntness in attack is partly down to a lack of quality. Few in the Bosnia team are household names, with Edin Dzeko, the now 40-year-old former Manchester City, Roma and Inter striker, the most recognisable. But attacking caution is a deliberate trade-off in an approach that prizes solidity.
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Bosnia sets up in a 4-4-2 and, unlike the more fluid USMNT, rarely rotates positions to try to unsettle opponents — but that rigidity helps it keep good defensive cover and structure behind the ball when possession is lost.
It is not completely static, though, with full-backs offering overlapping runs to free up tricky wingers, particularly ex-Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac down the left for gifted youngster Kerim Alajbegovic.
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While Dzeko is the squad’s established leader, 18-year-old Alajbegovic is the star. He boasts wonderful dribbling ability and is comfortable with both feet, allowing him to glide past defenders in either direction. In the 3-1 win against Qatar in the last group game, Alajbegovic completed six take-ons, the second-highest total by any player in a game at this tournament.
He possesses a thunderous shot, as shown by his strike from outside the area for the opening goal in that match.
Set to join Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen this summer from Red Bull Salzburg of Austria, Alajbegovic is Bosnia’s chief creator, having completed a team-high 16 passes into the opposition penalty area in the three group games. Given his eye-catching talents, it is unsurprising that Bosnia funnels 46 per cent of its attacks down his left flank, the highest share down that side of anyone at this tournament.
On the opposite wing is likely to be Esmir Bajraktarevic, the Wisconsin-born 21-year-old who developed in MLS, playing three seasons for New England Revolution before moving to PSV of the Netherlands in January last year. Not quite as technically gifted as Alajbegovic, Bajraktarevic is still a threat the United States need to be cautious of, particularly on the counter-attack with his blistering pace.
Nullifying its threat out wide will be the USMNT’s defensive priority.
In attack, the challenge for the USMNT will be breaking down a stubborn, committed and physical defence. In the opening 1-1 draw against Canada in Toronto, Bosnia had just 39 per cent of the ball and frustrated the tournament co-hosts, as Jesse Marsch’s side struggled to find space against a compact, deep-lying back line. Ermedin Demirovic regularly dropped from centre-forward into midfield to help clog things up, and at times Bosnia had six players strung across the pitch in a resolute defensive wall.
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The good news is the best way to prise Bosnia open is with sharp, unpredictable movement and slick interplay, which is exactly the kind of football the USMNT has championed under Pochettino. Barbarez’s side is not blessed with pace at the back and has been exposed by quick one-touch passing moves, such as the one below by Qatar.
A brute-force approach, by contrast, is unlikely to make much of a dent in a sturdy Bosnian side. At an average height of 6ft 1in (185cm), it is aerially dominant and have won 65 per cent of its aerial duels at this World Cup. Canada tried this route, putting in 30 crosses, but Bosnia made first contact on 23 of them.
That physicality doubles as an attacking weapon, as they are among this World Cup’s strongest set-piece sides, scoring a tournament-high three goals from corners.
Finally, there is the lurking presence of Dzeko up top.
Now with German side Schalke in the twilight of his playing days, he has enjoyed a glittering club career, helping win multiple trophies at Wolfsburg, City and Inter. His inevitable physical decline means he is now more selective with his movements, but he still retains those masterful centre-forward instincts for creating space, linking play and timing penalty-box runs.
That nous is shown below, where Dzeko, despite his lack of pace, manages to beat Qatar’s offside line near the centre circle, finding himself clear to drive towards the box and take a shot that cannons off the post.
At the heart of the U.S. defence sits 38-year-old Tim Ream, who is hardly a greyhound, so Pochettino would be wise to hand responsibility for marking Dzeko to his more sprightly center-back partner Chris Richards.
With the stakes suddenly raised and the threat of elimination looming, knockout football can devolve into a tetchy, uncomfortable affair.
Bosnia thrive in an attritional battle, and if the USMNT is not wary of that, the World Cup campaign could come to an abrupt, anti-climactic end.
World Cup weather: 75F for USMNT vs Bosnia, 93F in Atlanta for England’s indoor game vs DR Congo
Victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina would earn the USA a World Cup last-16 meeting with Belgium or Senegal Fran Santiago/Getty Images
World Cup weather: 75F for USMNT vs Bosnia, 93F in Atlanta for England’s indoor game vs DR Congo
Victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina would earn the USA a World Cup last-16 meeting with Belgium or Senegal Fran Santiago/Getty Images
July 1, 2026 Updated 12:08 pm EDT
The Athletic has live coverage of USMNT vs Bosnia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This World Cup is going to be hot and at times stormy, with a sizeable chunk of its 104 games set to be played above 90F (32C).
Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is likely to be the warmest edition since the previous time the tournament was held in North America, when the U.S. hosted it solo in 1994.
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While extreme heat and humidity will affect how matches are played, thunderstorms could provide the greater logistical challenge.
Under the thunderstorm protocol in place in the States, a match must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium involvedOnce that happens, a 30-minute countdown begins, but resets if another strike is detected before it ends.On Tuesday night, the round-of-32 tie between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City became the latest World Cup game to be delayed by storms, with kick-off taking place an hour later than scheduled. France’s match against Iraq on June 22 was the first to be affected — the delay there, which came at half-time, was more than two hours.To help understand which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
England vs DR Congo
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia. Kick-off: 12pm local time (EDT), 5pm BST
An indoor match, so no issues out on the pitch. A heat advisory is in effect from 12pm to 8pm in Atlanta today. It will be sunny and hot in areas surrounding the stadium. At 12pm, the match will start with an outside temperature of 91F (33C). Temperatures will rise to 93F (34C) after the game, with a 30 per cent chance of thunderstorms. Winds will be out of the east at 5mph.
Belgium vs Senegal
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington. Kick-off: 1pm local time (PDT), 4pm EDT, 9pm BST
Partly sunny and comfortable. At kick-off, the temperature will be 67F (19C), with winds out of the southwest at 5-10mph. Temperatures will hold steady near 67F (19C) during the match.
United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California. Kick-off: 5pm local time (PDT), 8pm EDT, 1am (Thursday) BST
Mostly sunny skies. The game will start with sunny skies and a temperature of 76F (24C). By the end of the match, the latter will be 72F (22C). Winds will be northwesterly at 5-10mph.
Aaron Mentkowski is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, a professional distinction granted by the American Meteorological Society. He is the chief meteorologist at WKBW, the ABC affiliate in Buffalo, New York. Aaron’s career as a meteorologist spans 30 years, and includes working at TV stations in Florida and Georgia. Aaron is also the owner and president of Weather in Detail, LLC, serving as a consultant and forensic meteorologist for law firms, insurance companies, concert promoters and event organizers. Aaron is an avid sports enthusiast. He is a two-time Ironman finisher, holds a Guinness World Record for participating in the longest hockey game, and he
Sam BordenJun 20, 2026, 09:00 AM ETSPNFC 
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