World Cup 2026 live updates: U.S. beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to advance to round of 16

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Last updated: Thursday, July 2, 2026 4:55AM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. men's national team defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0, securing a spot in the World Cup round of 16.

Folarin Balogun scored just before halftime and Malik Tillman scored on a free kick in the 82nd minute to seal the win.

The U.S. now faces Belgium in the next round on July 6 but it will do so without Balogun after he picked up a red card.

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Jun 11, 2026, 7:37 PM

World Cup watch parties in SoCal

If you don't have the opportunity to attend one of the World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium, there are still plenty of ways to take part.

We've compiled a list of Southern California watch parties, official fan festivals and things to know before the tournament gets underway.

Organizers of the FIFA Fan Festival Los Angeles offered a first look at the four-day World Cup fan experience planned at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ahead of its opening.
ByJOSH DUBOW AP logo
1 hour and 30 minutes ago

U.S. beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 to advance to round of 16

Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup before being sent off with a red card in the second half, and Malik Tillman converted on a free kick to give the 10-man United States squad a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night to advance to the round of 16.

Balogun dominated the first half with his goal and several other chances that helped the U.S. control the match early but the Americans had to scramble down a man after his foul against Tarik Muharemovic in the 64th minute.

Tillman helped seal the win when he scored on a free kick from just outside the box in the 82nd minute with a shot off the hand of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

That gave the U.S. just its second World Cup knockout round win. The Americans made it to the semifinals in the first tournament in 1930 by winning their group and won a round of 16 matchup against Mexico in 2002.

The win over Bosnia in the round of 32 in this year's expanded tournament sets up a matchup on Monday in Seattle against Belgium as the U.S. hopes to make a deep run on home soil.

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1 hour and 30 minutes ago

US leads 1-0 at the half against Bosnia-Herzegovina

A goal by Folarin Balogun gave the U.S. a lead of 1-0 heading into halftime.

The United States faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 at the World Cup.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is looking for the upset, while the U.S. seeks their first knockout round win since 2002.

Jory Rand Image
1 hour and 30 minutes ago

SoCal fútbol fans travel to Bay Area as the US seeks first knockout win since 2002

It's win or go home for the United States tonight in the World Cup. Team USA is looking to keep their exciting run going, seeking their first knockout round win since 2002.

It's win or go home for the United States tonight in the World Cup. The U.S. Men's National Team is looking to keep their exciting run going, seeking their first knockout round win since 2002.

Among the thousands of soccer fans who lined up hours before the gates to Levi's Stadium, known as San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for the tournament, opened for Wednesday's match, Eyewitness News found a lot of fans from Southern California who made the trek to the Bay Area to see history being made.

"Oh man, it's a huge deal. I've been waiting for this and I couldn't sleep last night," said Northridge native Alex Ruiz. "We have a chance to go to the next level."

"This is incredible. How many opportunities we have in our lifetime to come to matches here in the U.S. so we had to bring the kids," said Abi Ireland, from Beaumont.

U.S. fans have already seen some history being made in this tournament through three games. The U.S. collected six points in the opening group play round. That had not happened since 1930.

The U.S. has scored eight goals in three games so far in this tournament -- that's the most goals they have ever scored in a single tournament before. The U.S. Men's Team has only won one elimination game ever in a World Cup -- that was that famous game against Mexico back in 2002. And the U.S. has never won three games in a World Cup. That could change on Wednesday.

It's not cheap to attend Wednesday's game. Tickets are going for more than $1,000 each.

"Yeah, pretty much a small car, left foot, yeah, a kidney," said Reuben Valles, from West Hills.

Christian Pulisic was named to the United States men's national team's starting lineup for Wednesday's World Cup round-of-32 clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina after recovering from a calf injury.

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ESPN contributed to this report.

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Jul 01, 2026, 2:22 PM GMT

US coach Pochettino apologizes for curt tone to media after loss

U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino attends a news conference ahead of the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 30, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino attends a news conference ahead of the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, June 30, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino opened his news conference on Tuesday by asking the media to forgive him for his curt tone following the U.S. team's 3-2 loss to Turkey.

The loss came after the U.S. had clinched the top spot in the group.

"I want to apologize to the guys that were in my last press conference," Pochettino said. "I was so frustrated. I was disappointed. I thank you and am sorry. It was my problem, not your problem. I was upset after the defeat."

Pochettino called out the media in the post-match news conference last week for not praising him and his team for having already won the group before the loss to Turkey.

"For you not say congratulations that we won the group, that is a little bit sad," Pochettino told reporters after the game.