SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The U.S. men's national team faces a critical test Wednesday as it seeks to advance past the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup. The Americans will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, with their tournament hopes hanging on a victory against a European opponent.
The match represents a significant hurdle for the United States, which has not defeated a European team since 2021. A win would mark the first World Cup knockout victory for the U.S. since 2002, underscoring the magnitude of Wednesday's contest.
The Americans enter as favorites after winning their group, which included victories over Paraguay and Australia. Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked No. 64 by FIFA ahead of the World Cup, advanced to the knockout round after a 1-1 draw with Canada and a 3-1 win over Qatar. The Bosnians secured their World Cup berth through an upset playoff victory over Italy in March.
"For us, it's the final of the World Cup," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters on Tuesday. "If we don't think in this way, we are going to struggle."
The Americans received positive news regarding star winger Christian Pulisic, who is expected to be available for his first full start of the tournament. Pulisic left the opening game against Paraguay at halftime after a calf injury was exacerbated when he was kicked by a defender. He sat out the subsequent match against Australia before returning as a substitute in the group stage finale against Turkey.
"I felt great in the game against Turkey, so I'm feeling good this week," Pulisic told reporters on Tuesday. "I'm definitely ready to go for tomorrow."
The match carries particular significance due to the presence of Esmir Bajraktarević on the Bosnian roster. The 21-year-old winger was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Bosnian parents who immigrated to the United States in 2001 after fleeing conflict in their homeland during the 1990s.
Bajraktarević's family history is deeply connected to one of the darkest chapters of European history. His parents and their families lived near Srebrenica, where approximately 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed in July 1995 in what the International Court of Justice formally deemed a genocide. Multiple members of their families were killed in the massacre.
Despite growing up in the United States and progressing through MLS academies and U.S. Soccer youth national teams, Bajraktarević formally switched his national team allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024. He scored the decisive penalty in Bosnia's March playoff victory over Italy, which was then ranked No. 13 in the world. After converting the kick, Bajraktarević removed his jersey and displayed his family name to the fans and cameras.
"He can feel the jersey he's wearing. It means very much to him," Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez said on Tuesday. "He knows where he belongs. He knows which team he plays for. He knows where his parents come from."
This marks Bosnia and Herzegovina's second World Cup appearance. The nation was eliminated in the group stage during its tournament debut in 2014.
While the Americans hold the advantage on paper, recent results demonstrate that no knockout match is guaranteed. Germany, a traditional powerhouse, fell to Paraguay on penalty kicks Monday, serving as a reminder of the tournament's unpredictability.
The U.S. expects to field a fully healthy starting lineup for the first time in this World Cup, positioning the team for what many supporters hope will be a deep tournament run. However, the Americans must first overcome their recent struggles against European competition and secure passage to the Round of 16.
