Mauricio Pochettino's USA team secured their place in the World Cup last-16 with a deserved victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The win sets up a clash with Belgium in Seattle, but came at a significant cost as forward Folarin Balogun's tournament hangs in the balance.

Balogun opened the scoring with his third goal of the competition, continuing his impressive form after netting twice against Paraguay. However, just after the hour mark, a challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic resulted in a straight red card from referee Raphael Claus following a VAR review. The incident appeared accidental but left Balogun facing potential suspension extension beyond the Belgium match.

The 24-year-old became only the third American to score three goals in a single World Cup edition. His red card also placed him alongside Brazil legends Garrincha and Ronaldinho, plus Zinedine Zidane, as players who both scored and were sent off in knockout matches. Ricardo Pepi is likely to replace him despite struggling for goals.

Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards emphasized team unity, stating USA's strength lies in their collective unit rather than individual talent. Former England international Sue Smith believes the sending-off actually galvanized the American side, showcasing their professionalism and defensive solidity against a determined Bosnia attack.