The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage has delivered one of those matchups that looks straightforward on paper but promises to be anything but. The United States men’s national team will face Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as the Zmajevi, or Dragons, in the Round of 32 on July 1, 2026, at Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Kickoff is set for 5:00 PM MST at a venue that will be packed with home-crowd energy. The US is co-hosting this tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.
Both teams earned their way here through the group stage. That alone is worth noting for Bosnia, a nation of roughly 3.2 million people that has never been confused with a soccer superpower.
The defector from Wisconsin
Esmir Bajraktarevic, a talented player born in Wisconsin, will be wearing a Bosnia and Herzegovina jersey against the country where he grew up.
