After earning the top spot in Group D, the United States Men’s National Team will begin 2026 World Cup knockout play with a Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1, with kickoff in Santa Clara scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Americans come into this match following their first setback of the tournament. A largely rotated U.S. squad suffered a 3-2 defeat to Turkiye in its final group stage contest, surrendering the game-winning goal in the 98th minute.
On the contrary, Bosnia and Herzegovina enters this match on a high, having defeated Qatar 3-1 in their final group stage match to earn third place in Group B with four points.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Round of 32 matchup, let’s look at the latest odds and make some USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina predictions.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds
All soccer odds used for these USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina predictions are current as of Tuesday, June 30, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: USA (-265) / Draw (+390) / Bosnia and Herzegovina (+800)
- Spread: USA -1.5 (+110) / Bosnia and Herzegovina +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals (-155) / Under 2.5 Goals (+125)
- To Advance: USA (-700) / Bosnia and Herzegovina (+450)
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Predictions
Score Prediction: USA 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
While the defeat to Turkiye was a bit of a momentum killer for the USMNT, I’m expecting the Americans to bounce back against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to his starting lineup for that final group game, so a drop-off in performance was expected. Still, it was worthwhile to protect the team’s star players from injury and/or suspension.
Perhaps the most important part of the Turkiye defeat was the return of talisman Christian Pulisic, who looked lively after coming off the bench in the 58th minute. His return to the lineup and direct threat on the left wing will be a massive benefit for the U.S. as it tries to break down the stubborn defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
So far in this tournament, the USMNT has had success against teams that sit deep, unlocking Paraguay in a 4-1 victory and cruising past Australia 2-0. Bosnia and Herzegovina will play a similar physical game, and I like the Americans’ chances to out-finesse them in their first knockout game on home soil.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Best Bets
USA -1.5 (+110) vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
As stated above, I foresee this match playing out much like the USA’s games against Paraguay and Australia. Pochettino’s squad will have the lion’s share of possession; it’s just a matter of finding a way to break down an organized, deep defensive block.
We’ve seen the U.S. do that in this tournament, especially when they’re at full strength.
Early goals have been key for the Americans so far. They’ve scored first in every match, with each opening goal coming inside the first 15 minutes. If that trend continues, the USMNT will have a great chance to record another multi-goal victory.
At plus-money odds, I’ll back the World Cup co-hosts to cover the spread as my soccer bet of the day.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Under 2.5 Goals (+125)
Overs have generally been a good bet in USA games, with eight of the team’s previous 10 matches featuring at least three total goals.
However, I have some concerns as to whether that free-flowing style will continue in the win-or-go-home environment of a World Cup knockout match.
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And while the U.S. will look to replicate its free-flowing attacking performances from the group stage, Bosnia and Herzegovina will likely try to impose themselves physically, slow things down, and look to take their chances on the counter.
Before the 3-1 victory over Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina hadn’t scored more than one goal in seven straight matches. Manager Sergej Barbarez would be happy to disrupt the U.S. and play for extra time or penalties, which is how his side advanced past Italy in the final stage of the European playoffs.
Given that, I think a cagey, low-scoring affair could be in the cards, so I’ll wager on the under at plus-money odds.
