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The U.S. men's national team aims to become only the seventh Concacaf side to ever advance past a World Cup knockout match on Wednesday when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, Calif., in the round of 32.
After topping Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia and a defeat to Türkiye, the USMNT heads into the knockout stage with strong ambitions. With the expanded tournament format, there is a real chance of claiming a first knockout-round victory, as the team last reached the quarterfinals back in 2002.
However, things won't be straightforward against Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the tallest squad in the competition, the Balkan nation can be a physical force on set-pieces and also boasts several key players, including American-born winger Esmir Bajraktarević and Premier League icon Edin Džeko leading the attack.
Here, Sports Illustrated breaks down the three most crucial USMNT players in the matchup, with the winner set to face Belgium or Senegal on July 6 in Seattle.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun isn't the quickest, and at 5'10", he's far from physically dominant—yet he remains the most critical attacking weapon for the USMNT, thanks to his goal-scoring ability through the team's first two World Cup outings.
Although he expressed a desire to feature against Türkiye to stay in contention for the Golden Boot, he was kept out of that game and will come into this match with 12 days of rest since his last appearance in the victory over Australia. Refreshed and primed, he'll look to add to the goal he scored against the Socceroos and the brace he delivered against Paraguay in the tournament opener.
Against a towering defensive line, Balogun's nimbleness will be a key asset, along with his ability to slip in behind taller defenders and operate with the ball at his feet rather than in the air. His sharp finishing will also be essential in an elimination game against a typically physical and defensively disciplined Bosnian side.
Alex Freeman
Few players can match the stature of Bosnia's defenders, but Alex Freeman, standing at 6'2" and deployed in a wide role, is one of them. While he could feature in the back three, his standout display against Australia demonstrated he can hold his own against physically dominant defenders, a challenge he'll face again this week.
His speed and ability with the ball also make him a vital option, given the relative lack of pace in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad and the potential to help the USMNT exploit space on the counter if they find themselves under pressure.
While the Villarreal forward's 13-minute substitute appearance against Türkiye was unimpressive, his qualities from the opening whistle could prove decisive in winning the duel against the tenacious and skillful Bajraktarević on his flank.