The U.S. men’s national soccer team is preparing for a decisive Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California, marking the beginning of the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. Hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the tournament is now entering its critical knockout phase where the stakes are highest and previous accomplishments hold little weight without progress.

After topping Group D with two wins and a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay—the most goals the U.S. has ever scored in a World Cup match—the team now faces the challenge of advancing past Bosnia-Herzegovina. The U.S. is favored to win and is aiming to secure its first knockout match victory since 2002. That year, the team defeated Mexico 2-0 before falling to Germany in the quarterfinals. Since then, knockout-stage appearances in 2010, 2014, and 2022 ended in losses to Ghana, Belgium, and the Netherlands, respectively.

U.S. striker Folarin Balogun emphasized the shift in focus now that the knockout stage has begun. “For me, winning the group won’t mean much if we don’t progress,” he said. “That’s not really my mentality. I’m just looking forward to Wednesday and going out and winning.” Reflecting this sentiment, defender Sergiño Dest acknowledged the intensity of knockout competition as “all or nothing,” stressing the importance of maintaining sharpness throughout the match.

The current squad includes 13 players from the 2022 team but has evolved under a new coach, bringing renewed energy and confidence. Balogun noted that the group is in a better headspace and has improved chemistry and experience since the last World Cup. This confidence is key, as the U.S. approaches the match as the favorite—a departure from past knockout rounds where the team often entered as underdogs.

An additional storyline heading into the match involves Dest, who plays club soccer alongside Bosnian forward Esmir Bajraktarevic at PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Both players hold ties to the U.S. and Bosnia; Dest, born and raised in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Surinamese American father, chose to represent the U.S. internationally in 2019. Bajraktarevic, a Wisconsin native with Bosnian refugee parents, previously represented U.S. youth teams before officially committing to Bosnia for the World Cup. Although the two have yet to communicate before the game, Dest acknowledged Bajraktarevic as a “good, technical player” and expressed hope that the U.S. would emerge victorious.

With the knockout stage underway, the U.S. team is focused on building on its group-stage momentum and achieving historic progress. As Balogun put it, “This is the business end. It’s where the big players step forward and carry the pressure.” The outcome of Wednesday’s match will determine whether the U.S. can break a 24-year drought without a knockout-stage win and extend its World Cup journey on home soil.