The United States will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in a high-stakes Round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, July 1, in Santa Clara, California. The matchup at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium marks the first-ever knockout stage appearance for Bosnia and Herzegovina and a pivotal test for the co-host nation’s title hopes.

The game kicks off at 8pm ET and you can listen live on iHeartRadio!

The United States enters the fixture as the favorite after winning Group D, securing victories over Paraguay and Australia before falling to Türkiye. For the Americans, a win would mean only their second-ever World Cup knockout victory, with their last coming in 2002 against Mexico. US captain Tim Ream expressed respect for Bosnia, saying, "They’re a difficult team to play against, and they’re in the tournament for a reason. We have to expect the unexpected."

Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko, reached the knockout round by finishing third in Group B and qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams. Their journey included a draw with Canada, a loss to Switzerland, and a crucial win over Qatar. Bosnia’s strong physical presence—boasting the tallest squad at the tournament—and set piece threat have helped them score key goals, despite never keeping a clean sheet in their six World Cup matches.

Players to watch include American stars Christian Pulisic—who is expected to return from injury—and Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the group stage. For Bosnia, top scorer Ermin Mahmic and US-born winger Esmir Bajraktarević add attacking depth. Bosnia’s coach, Sergej Barbarez, has shaped a team that relies on experience and physicality, aiming to build on their historic qualification run, which included a playoff victory over Italy.

The United States holds an unbeaten record in previous friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina (two wins, one draw), but has struggled historically in World Cup matches against European sides, with just one win in their last 21 such games.

The winner will advance to face either Belgium or Senegal in the last 16.

You can follow all the action of the 2026 FIFA World and listen to Fox's coverage of the knockout round games LIVE and for FREE via iHeartRadio’s digital app and more than 100 broadcast stations nationwide! You can also get the latest news and updates with iHeartRadio's lineup of soccer-focused podcasts, including Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogert and Tab Ramos and The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green.

94 Rock Music