Sorry to burst the blockbuster bubble. The US Men’s National Team won’t be facing England on the Fourth of July in some made-for-Hollywood World Cup showdown.
Instead, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET. The matchup pits the USMNT, who topped Group D with six points and eight goals across three matches, against the third-place finisher from Group B.
How the USMNT got here
The Americans earned their spot as Group D champions despite a late 3-2 loss to Turkey that added some unnecessary drama to an otherwise commanding group stage. The squad’s victory over Australia and overall goal output secured the top seed, which is why they drew a third-place qualifier rather than a group runner-up.
This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, a massive expansion from the previous 32-team format. That means a brand new Round of 32 before the traditional knockout rounds even begin. The expanded bracket is exactly why the USMNT’s path leads to Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of England.
