USA's low‑key victory sets up Belgium showdown in round of 16

While the United States celebrated a straightforward 2‑0 win over Bosnia at Levi’s Stadium, Belgium’s Red Devils are already eyeing their own round‑of‑16 opponent. The American side, guided by coach Mauricio Pochettino, secured the result with goals from Folarin Balogun before halftime and Malik Tillman in the second half, confirming their first knockout appearance since 2014. Balogun, the Monaco striker, capitalised on a deflected shot that rebounded twice off the Bosnian defence to find himself one‑on‑one with the goal at the 45th minute. His finish restored the United States to the lead just before the break, ending a first half that had seen few clear chances at the venue. Later in the match, a player formerly linked to Sébastien Pocognoli received a red card for a clumsy tackle on Nikola Katic, reducing the Americans to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the United States maintained composure and limited Bosnia’s attacking threat.

England fights its way through, Belgium survives thriller, US thrives at home

In the final ten minutes, Tillman converted a direct free‑kick in the 82nd minute to double the lead. The goal, hailed on social media as one of the biggest in US soccer history, sealed a 2‑0 victory. Both teams combined for only two shots on target, underscoring the defensive nature of the encounter. The United States’ win marks their first progression to the knockout stage since the 2014 tournament, where they fell to Belgium after . Belgium, fresh from a collective performance against Senegal, now faces a United States side that showed resilience despite a red card. The contrast between the low‑key American victory and Belgium’s recent display sets the stage for a potentially tight round‑of‑16 clash.