USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina: Will the Dragons spoil the American dream?
Will the Stars and Stripes' difficulties at the World Cup knockout stages mark the end of an impressive journey?
Despite impressing in the 2026 World Cup group stages as co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico, the USA are still considered an underdog against the tournament's traditional powerhouses, according to the best betting sites, with many expecting their journey to become significantly tougher from here.
The Stars and Stripes secured the top spot in Group D by finishing two points clear of second-placed Australia. It was a great start to the tournament, beating the likes of Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0) before suffering their first defeat against an already-eliminated Turkey outfit in the final round (3-2).
It must be noted that in the latter game, head coach Mauricio Pochettino made significant changes to the starting XI, not only to allow fringe players to showcase themselves on the grandest stage in world football, but also because qualification to the knockout stages had already been secured.
Now all that's left is for the USA to get past the Round of 32, which isn't new for them. They have reached this particular stage in eight of their last 12 appearances in this tournament, and their performance has left much to be desired.
The USA are making a second straight appearance in the World Cup knockout stages. In the previous 2022 edition in Qatar, they reached the Round of 16 but were eliminated after a disheartening 3-1 defeat against the Netherlands.
The North American nation have won just one of their last seven knockout games, and this triumph came in the 2002 World Cup, beating Mexico 2-0 in the Round of 16 before being outsmarted 1-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals. To date, that achievement remains one of their best runs in the tournament.
USA record at World Cup Knockout Stages:
- 1930 (Semi-final): Argentina 6–1 USA
- 1994 (Round of 16): Brazil 1–0 USA
- 2002 (Round of 16): USA 2–0 Mexico
- 2002 (Quarter-final): Germany 1–0 USA
- 2010 (Round of 16): Ghana 2–1 USA (AET)
- 2014 (Round of 16): Belgium 2–1 USA (AET)
- 2022 (Round of 16): Netherlands 3–1 USA
Another devastating blow that could prevent them from securing their second win at the World Cup knockout stages is their underwhelming record against European nations in this tournament, where they've yet to win in the past 13 encounters, recording six draws and seven losses.
However, they'll take comfort in their last three friendly games against Bosnia & Herzegovina, in which they've remained unbeaten (W2, D1) to stop the rot.
Are the Dragons capable of seeing off a higher-ranked side?
For a nation that is still being tormented by ethnic tensions, Bosnia & Herzegovina have had to overcome instability off the pitch to find consistency on it. Despite those challenges, they remain a resilient side capable of holding their own against higher-ranked opposition.
You don't have to look far to find proof of their grit, as has been the case throughout their 2026 World Cup campaign. It's their second appearance and first since 2014, when they failed to make it beyond the group stages, finishing in Group F.
This time around, they are participating in their first-ever knockout stage, a historic milestone for the European nation as they seek to defy expectations even further when they face the USA in the Round of 32. For more insights into the game, see our USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina prediction.
In the current edition in North America, their campaign got off to a positive note, holding co-hosts Canada to a 1-1 draw, but suffered their first defeat against Group B winners Switzerland, 4-1.
The third round was the most important part in their securing a first-ever appearance at the knockout stages. They beat Qatar 3-1 in the final round, securing passage to this round as one of the eight best third-placed sides in the tournament.
A look at how Bosnia & Herzegovina fared in Group B:
| Position | Team | MP | W | D | L | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Switzerland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2. | Canada | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| 3.* | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| 4. | Qatar | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -8 |
* - ranking of the third-placed teams' spot
Overcoming co-hosts USA could prove an arduous task for the Dragons, who have gone three games without a win against this opponent. In their last meeting in 2021, they suffered a 1-0 defeat. Could this be their moment to get revenge?
Player Focus: You can't Ermin-ate Mahmic from the game
Edin Dzeko is the most capped player for the Bosnia & Herzegovina senior national team, but the 40-year-old has yet to find his mark at this stage as he still searches for his first goal at the World Cup in six appearances.
However, it has been the teenage sensation who has risen to the occasion, with the Slovan Liberec attacking midfielder, Ermin Mahmic, scoring twice at the tournament.
Only four players before him had managed it: Mahmic has now scored in his opening two World Cup matches, both as a substitute!
His second successive goal on the grandest stage in world football came against Qatar when he put the game beyond reach in the 80th minute, guiding his team to the last 32. He could prove deadly once again as he seeks to make a start off the bench.
