Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.The United States’ path through the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds came into focus on Friday when potential opponents in the round of 16 and quarterfinals locked up Groups G and H, respectively.The U.S. already knows that it will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif. (8 p.m. ET, Fox), and that, for the next several days, will be its focus.“We’re not looking past Bosnia,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said Thursday. “We’re not looking past the round of 32.”But after Friday, fans can. The U.S. learned that the two other first-place finishers in its quadrant of the knockout bracket will be Belgium and Spain.Those two teams, therefore, would arguably be the most likely U.S. opponents in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle on July 6; and in a quarterfinal on July 10 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.There are, however, still a somewhat wide range of potential opponents beyond those favorites.Here’s a round-by-round look at the possibilities.Mauricio Pochettino’s side got off a victorious start with wins against Paraguay and Australia. (Alex Livesey / FIFA via Getty Images)Last 16The winner of the U.S.-Bosnia match will play five days later against either Belgium or a third-place qualifier from Group A, I or J.Belgium came from behind to top Group G with a 5-1 win over New Zealand, while Egypt failed to beat Iran in a simultaneous game and slipped down to the runner-up spot.