USA defeats Bosnia Herzegovina to enter pre-quarterfinals

• My FIFA Diary

TORONTO (TIP): All the three co-hosts – USA, Mexico and Canada – completed their first hurdle of the knockout round on a victorious note to enter pre-quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

USA, the major host, was the last to clear the round of 32 hurdle defeating Bosnia Herzegovina 2-0 as Mexico and Canada had already made the round of 16.

For the USA, the win against Bosnia Herzegovina was reiteration that its earlier triumphs in the tournament were a legitimate recognition of the hard work its players had put in while preparing themselves for the big event on their home soil.

Bosnia Herzegovina, who made the knockout round after its hard-fought win over Qatar in the last group match, had drawn its opening game against co-host Canada 1-1 and lost against Switzerland also.

Bosnia was the third team from the Group after Switzerland and Canada to make the knockout round.

USA after losing its last game to bottom placed Turkey in the last group game had to put its best foot forward against spirited Bosnians who entered the field with nothing to lose. They tried to match their opponents in every department of the game but were unlucky not to grab their chances.

Instead, they conceded the lead just on the verge of half time when Folarun Balgun scored. Late in the second half, Tillman scored from a free kick, perhaps the only second goal of the tournament from free kicks after Canadian Nathan Saliba who came as a substitute for injured Ismael Kone scored from a similar free kick. With two goals to its tally, the Americans still had to keep its defense on alert with Bosnians continuing with their efforts to reduce the margin.

USA will now play Belgium in the round of 16.

Earlier, England overcame a 0-1 deficit to defeat Congo to earn the right to challenge Mexico in the round of 16. Belgium scored from a penalty in the dying moments of the extra time to snub Senegal 3-2 in another round of 32 match.

(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto, Canada based senior journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)