No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Ermin Mahmic2 - 2
Folarin Balogun2 - 3Jovo Lukic1
- 4Giovanni Reyna1
- 5Auston Trusty1
- 6Kerim Alajbegovic1
- 7Sebastian Berhalter1
- 8Alex Freeman1
- 1Folarin Balogun7
- 2Malik Tillman5
- 3Weston McKennie5
- 4Ricardo Pepi5
- 5Ivan Basic4
- 6Jovo Lukic3
- 7Auston Trusty3
- 8Brenden Aaronson3
- 9Christian Pulisic3
- 10Edin Dzeko3
- 1Weston McKennie4
- 2Nikola Katic4
- 3Malik Tillman3
- 4Chris Richards3
- 5Tyler Adams3
- 6Sead Kolasinac3
- 7Benjamin Tahirovic3
- 8Alex Freeman2
- 9Amar Memic2
- 10Armin Gigovic2
- 1Malik Tillman1
- 2Ivan Basic1
- 3Sebastian Berhalter1
- 4Alex Freeman1
- 5Christian Pulisic1
- 6Sead Kolasinac1
- 7Dennis Hadzikadunic1
- 1Weston McKennie7
- 2Ivan Basic6
- 3Malik Tillman5
- 4Sebastian Berhalter5
- 5Kerim Alajbegovic4
- 6Alex Freeman3
- 7Christian Pulisic3
- 8Sead Kolasinac3
- 9Esmir Bajraktarevic2
- 10Tyler Adams2
- 1Chris Richards175
- 2Tim Ream152
- 3Alex Freeman128
- 4Weston McKennie110
- 5Tyler Adams110
- 6Nikola Katic107
- 7Sead Kolasinac99
- 8Ivan Basic95
- 9Antonee Robinson83
- 10Sebastian Berhalter82
- 1Kerim Alajbegovic8
- 2Sergiño Dest7
- 3Weston McKennie6
- 4Antonee Robinson6
- 5Christian Pulisic5
- 6Alex Freeman4
- 7Malik Tillman3
- 8Amar Dedic3
- 9Ivan Basic2
- 10Tyler Adams2
- 1Tyler Adams6
- 2Tarik Muharemovic5
- 3Weston McKennie5
- 4Esmir Bajraktarevic4
- 5Malik Tillman4
- 6Nikola Katic4
- 7Alex Freeman4
- 8Benjamin Tahirovic4
- 9Auston Trusty3
- 10Ivan Basic3
The United States look to extend their home World Cup adventure when they face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Thursday. Kick-off is scheduled for 2am (UK time) on Thursday 2nd July at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California.
The Stars and Stripes topped Group D with six points, beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before a much-changed side lost 3-2 to Turkey in a dead-rubber final group game. Bosnia-Herzegovina clinched a Round of 32 berth by finishing third in Group B with four points, securing one of the tournament’s eight best third-place spots after beating Qatar 3-1. Mauricio Pochettino’s side carry home advantage; Sergej Barbarez’s Dragons carry the spirit of a nation making only their second-ever World Cup appearance.
United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folarin Balogun to score anytime | 6/5 @ bet365 (25%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Balogun has two goals in the group stage off an expected goals figure of 0.88 and three shots on target, making him the USA’s most reliable finisher. He has already netted twice in the tournament and leads the line as the focal point of Pochettino’s attack. Bosnia’s defence looked exposed for large parts of the group stage, conceding heavily to Switzerland. With home advantage and a fully rested front line, Balogun is the standout anytime scorer selection in Santa Clara. |
| USA to win and under 2.5 goals | 5/2 @ Sky Bet (26.7%) | ⭐⭐ | Bosnia have leaned on the experience of veteran striker Edin Dzeko without consistently finding the net. Dzeko has not scored in his two appearances at this World Cup despite 73 international goals to his name. Bosnia receive a boost with centre-back Tarik Muharemovic returning from suspension, which should stabilise a backline that looked exposed during the group stage. A controlled, home win where the USA manage the tie reflects the most likely shape of this fixture. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
United States
The USA were highly impressive in their opening two matches, beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 to secure their spot in the knockout stage with a match to spare. A 3-2 defeat to Turkey followed in a dead-rubber finale, but six points from three matches still proved enough to top Group D. Pochettino used that final game to rest his key players ahead of the knockout rounds – a decision that now pays off with a fully refreshed squad available for Santa Clara.
Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Chris Richards all return to the side after being managed carefully against Turkey, giving Pochettino his strongest possible XI for the biggest game of the tournament so far. The USA reached the semi-finals of the 1930 World Cup and the quarter-finals in 2002, alongside last-16 appearances in 1934, 1994, 2010, 2014 and 2022 – Thursday offers the chance to add another chapter to that history on home soil.
The tactical battle centres on midfield dominance and transition speed, with the USA looking to control tempo through Christian Pulisic’s creativity in the half-spaces. Pulisic featured only sparingly across the group stage but made a substitute appearance against Turkey and played more than half an hour, easing any lingering fitness concerns. A raucous home crowd at Levi’s Stadium gives the hosts every reason for confidence.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia-Herzegovina finished third in Group B behind Switzerland and Canada, opening with a 1-1 draw against Canada before losing 4-1 to Switzerland. A crucial 3-1 win over Qatar on matchday three proved decisive, securing their place among the tournament’s eight best third-placed sides. The Dragons were knocked out in the group stage in 2014 and failed to qualify for 2018 and 2022 – reaching the knockout rounds represents a genuine success story for Bosnian football.
This is just the second World Cup in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s history, and the emotional weight behind this squad runs deep. Edin Dzeko, 40, remains the heartbeat of this team – a national hero whose career has carried enormous symbolic significance for Bosnian fans following the Siege of Sarajevo. His presence alone galvanises a passionate travelling support that has made itself heard throughout the tournament.
Bosnia-Herzegovina made this World Cup the hard way, squeezing into the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams. They built their campaign on defensive solidity and effective counter-attacking play, though that approach briefly deserted them against Switzerland, a game also influenced by a red card for centre-back Tarik Muharemovic. His return from suspension gives Barbarez’s defence renewed stability heading into Santa Clara.
United States team news
Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun and Chris Richards all return to the side after being rested or managed carefully during the dead-rubber defeat to Turkey. Pochettino has his strongest possible group available for the Round of 32 and faces few selection dilemmas given the clarity provided by the group stage.
Matt Freese continues in goal behind a back four of Alex Freeman, Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson. Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman anchor the midfield, with Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic providing creative width and energy ahead of them. Balogun leads the line and has already netted twice at this tournament.
Bosnia-Herzegovina team news
Bosnia-Herzegovina receive a significant boost with 23-year-old centre-back Tarik Muharemovic returning from suspension, heavily stabilising a backline that looked exposed during the group stage. His reinstatement is the single biggest team news story for Barbarez ahead of Santa Clara.
Nikola Vasilj continues in goal behind a back four of Riad Dedic, Toni Sunjic, Muharemovic and Sead Kolasinac. Amar Bajraktarevic, Sanjin Sunjic, Toni Basic and Kerim Alajbegovic operate across midfield, with Dzeko and Demirovic leading the attack. Alajbegovic is one of the few Bosnia attackers to have found the net in the group stage and offers a spark from deeper areas.
Head-to-Head
The United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina have played three friendlies over the years, with United States coming on top twice. Bosnia-Herzegovina have yet to win in this fixture. Thursday’s Round of 32 fixture in Santa Clara is the first-ever competitive encounter between the two nations.
Which side will advance to the Round of 16?
The United States enter Thursday’s fixture as heavy favourites, backed by home advantage, a settled spine and the firepower of Balogun and Pulisic. The winner books a Round of 16 tie against either Belgium or Senegal. Bosnia-Herzegovina arrive with the spirit of a side already exceeding expectations and the experience of Dzeko to call upon when it matters most.
We’re backing Folarin Balogun to extend his impressive tournament form in Santa Clara. 6/5 with bet365 for Balogun to score anytime reflects his clinical edge, his expected return to the starting XI and Bosnia’s defensive vulnerabilities exposed against Switzerland.
For a combined play, USA to win and under 2.5 goals at 5/2 with Sky Bet reflects home advantage, Pochettino’s settled spine and the controlled, low-scoring nature knockout football against a well-organised underdog often produces.
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