National Writer: Charles Boehm<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n SANTA CLARA, Calif. \u2013 The United States<\/a> are moving on, advancing to the FIFA World Cup<\/a>\u2019s Round of 16 after a 2-0 defeat<\/a> of Bosnia and Herzegovina, achieved despite playing down a man for more than half an hour due to Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n And perhaps what\u2019s most remarkable about the victory is what it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s the World Cup, it\u2019s a knockout-round game, but it didn’t feel like we were down a man those 35 minutes,\u201d captain Tim Ream<\/a> told reporters postgame. \u201cOK, they had a little bit more of the ball, but we were still able to carve out chances, we were still able to keep hold of the ball, we had resilience, kept an unbelievable shape, and everybody knew their roles.<\/p>\n \u201cWe said it out there on the field as we were walking off: It felt really calm, felt really, really easy and simple for us. We all were just calm.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ plays in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium after the @USMNT<\/a> Knockout Stage victory \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/tBtFoqh0xC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Ream and his teammates limited Bosnia and Herzegovina to 0.25 expected goals on the day despite all that time with a numerical advantage, a rearguard action made much less stressful when Malik Tillman doubled the Yanks\u2019 lead with a gorgeous late free-kick strike.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of the way we train, because of the conversations that we have, the communication that we have, the togetherness that we have, the fight, the intensity, the aggression with and without the ball, it was a steely focus,” said Ream.<\/p>\n “And unless you’re on the field and you see it in guys’ eyes, it’s hard to understand, but it felt so comfortable, even down to 10 men. That’s the way you want to feel. You don’t want to have that panic set in. You want to have that calm and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n As was the case with the first-choice lineup\u2019s previous wins over Paraguay and Australia, it was a remarkable display of pitch control and mastery of the match\u2019s tempo.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it showed how strong the team is that we went down a man and nobody really stressed out,\u201d said FC Dallas<\/a> product Chris Richards. \u201cIt was unlucky from Flo, but it is what it is, so we got on with it, and I think it was very important that we kept the clean sheet. And then the cherry on top was Malik\u2019s free kick.<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, it wasn\u2019t a perfect day by any means, but it was our day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n While Tarik Muharemovi\u0107\u2019s pain was evident, there was little trace of intent, leaving the USMNT feeling hard done by as they contemplated facing Belgium \u2013 a side that comprehensively defeated the Yanks 5-2<\/a> in a March friendly in Atlanta \u2013 on Monday with their razor-sharp spearhead suspended.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it was never a red card,\u201d said head coach Mauricio Pochettino. \u201cWatching it after on TV, it was never the intention to step on the player \u2013 that was a normal action in football that happened by accident, and it’s never intentional.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s disappointed, very disappointed,\u201d added \u2018Poch\u2019 of Balogun. \u201cIt’s difficult. We cannot do anything to change that feeling. But that is football; he needs to understand these types of situations happen. I hope for sure he\u2019s going to help us to perform, and I hope we can go to the next one and he can be available again.\u201d<\/p>\n The frustration was palpable from FC Dallas academy alum Weston McKennie, once again one of his team\u2019s top performers with energy and intellect in midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s questionable,\u201d he said of the red card. \u201cThere’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. So it’s disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This play is being reviewed for a potential red card against the US pic.twitter.com\/EdyPpgpycA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Emphasizing the brotherhood this group has cultivated over the past few years, Ream said the rest of the squad gave Balogun their support and expressed confidence that backup strikers Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright will be prepared to seize the moment should they be given the chance to step up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not anything that he (Balogun) has done wrong, in reality, and we obviously had his back; we have each others’ back,\u201d said the Charlotte FC<\/a> veteran. \u201cIt’s a shame. But at the same time, we’ve told him, ‘Listen, we’ve got another game, we’re going to do what we can to go out there and put on another performance, try to get another win, so that he can get another game.’<\/p>\n \u201cAs for the other two, you don’t need to say anything. They\u2019ve been professionals long enough that they know the script, and they’ll be working hard to have that opportunity for the next game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Yanks will hold a recovery session at the San Jose Earthquakes<\/a>\u2019 PayPal Park on Thursday before flying to Seattle, where they defeated Australia in Group D play, to duel Belgium at the home of Sounders FC<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
Digging deep<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Red-card controversy<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Next man up<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n