USMNT Takes on Bosnia & Herzegovina in High-Stakes World Cup Clash: Key Matchups, Bold Predictions, and Expected Lineups Revealed

American faith in its national soccer team has been restored, and Mauricio Pochettino's side looks to further fuel those dreams when it takes on Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32 at this summer's World Cup.

Nerves gripped the nation ahead of the USMNT's opening group stage clash against Paraguay, but fears of an embarrassing home exit were quickly put to rest. Rather than buckling under pressure, the team rose to the moment and delivered the most thrilling display of Pochettino's reign so far.

A 2–0 triumph over a spirited Australia followed, securing first place in Group D with one match still remaining. That's why the USMNT boss took a cautious approach after the late defeat to Türkiye, with Pochettino opting for sweeping changes to keep his squad fresh for the knockout rounds.

The U.S. must now overcome European opposition to extend their World Cup run, having traditionally found UEFA sides difficult to handle. Bosnia & Herzegovina is no pushover — it's a tall, physical outfit that has made set-pieces a weapon throughout the tournament.

A 3–1 win over Qatar on Matchday 3 sent Bosnia through as one of the top third-place finishers, after opening with a 1–1 draw against Canada and a 4–1 loss to Switzerland.

USMNT vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina Score Prediction

Stars and Stripes' World Cup Dream Lives On

The USMNT believes it has what it takes to make history on home turf this summer. The first two performances have set supporters' imaginations alight, and a relatively favorable path to the quarterfinals has opened up for Mauricio Pochettino's squad.

The mate-sipping Argentine knows that he and his players must keep their feet on the ground, with the determined Bosnians more than capable of derailing their run in Santa Clara. Encouragingly, the USMNT has already handled teams of Bosnia's caliber, but the heightened pressure of the knockout stage will add an extra dimension for the co-hosts.

Prediction: USMNT 3–1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

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USMNT Predicted Lineup vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mauricio Pochettino made nine alterations from the starting eleven that beat Australia on Matchday 2 for the Türkiye fixture, with only Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie keeping their places.

Pepi stepped into the USMNT's attack in Christian Pulisic's absence, but the AC Milan forward is set to reclaim his spot after coming on as a substitute last time out. Pulisic picked up a minor calf problem during the 4–1 thrashing of Paraguay at the World Cup's outset.

Sebastian Berhalter is knocking on the door after impressing on Matchday 3, but Pochettino is expected to maintain a midfield trio of Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams, and McKennie.

Cristian Roldan is reportedly the sole fitness doubt, though he has yet to feature for a single minute at this tournament. Roldan, who was an unused substitute against Paraguay and Australia, was ruled out of the Türkiye match due to a muscle problem.

USMNT predicted lineup vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKenzie, Pulisic; Balogun.

Bosnia & Herzegovina Predicted Lineup vs. USMNT

USMNT fans will recognize Esmir Bajraktarević, who earned a cap in 2024 against Slovenia before electing to represent his parents' homeland. Bajraktarević's family fled to the United States during the Bosnian War, and the winger was born in Wisconsin in 2005.

He is one of two lively wide attackers in Bosnia's squad. On the left flank, Alex Freeman will be charged with containing the exciting young Kerim Alajbegović, who became the World Cup's eighth-youngest goalscorer against Qatar on Matchday 3.

Experienced striker Edin Džeko is expected to lead the attack alongside Ermedin Demirović, while centerback Tarik Muharemović is set to return to the backline after completing a one-match ban. Muharemović was dismissed during the 4–1 loss to Switzerland.

Bosnia & Herzegovina predicted lineup vs. USMNT (4-4-2): Vasilj; Dedić, Katić, Muharemović, Kolašinać; Bajraktarević, Bašić, Šunjić, Bajraktarevic; Demirović, Džeko.

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James Cormack is a freelance soccer writer for Sports Illustrated FC. An expert on Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, he covers Italian and German football with a particular focus on the work of Antonio Conte & Julian Nagelsmann.