USMNT Takes the Field Against Bosnia & Herzegovina: Official Lineups Revealed for High-Stakes World Cup Round of 32 Clash

The U.S. men's national team hopes to keep its World Cup championship aspirations alive on Wednesday when it takes on Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32, having emerged as winners of Group D.

Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT must bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Türkiye in the group stage finale — a match in which Pochettino chose to field a heavily rotated squad of backup players, since the USMNT had already secured the group.

Bosnia & Herzegovina, meanwhile, reached the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation's history, finishing third in Group B after drawing with Canada, falling to Switzerland, and defeating Qatar.

Excitement for the knockout stage showdown has been mounting throughout the past week, with the USMNT seeking its first World Cup knockout stage victory since 2002. If the Americans advance, they will meet Belgium in the round of 16 in Seattle.

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Pulisic Back in the Starting Lineup

Christian Pulisic returns to the USMNT starting eleven for the first time since the World Cup opener against Paraguay, a game he exited at halftime after reaggravating a prior injury. He sat out the second match against Australia before coming on as a substitute for 32 minutes in the Group D finale against Türkiye.

Pulisic has featured in just one World Cup knockout match throughout his career — when the USMNT was eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16 in Qatar four years ago. As he regains fitness, the team will be without two rotation players: midfielder Cristian Roldan and center back Mark McKenzie, both dealing with injuries and unavailable for the fixture.

USMNT Starting Lineup vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Starting XI: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream; Dest, Adams, Tillman, A Robinson; McKennie, Pulisic, Balogun.

Subs: Turner (GK), Brady (GK), Trusty, Scally, M. Robinson, Aaronson, Reyna, Arfsten, Berhalter, Weah, Zendejas, Wright, Pepi

⚠️ Injured: McKenzie, Roldan

Bosnia and Herzegovina Starting Lineup vs. USMNT

Starting XI: Vasilj (GK); Radeljić, Katić, Muharemović, Kolašinac; Dedić, Gigović, Šunjić, Alajbegović; Demirović, Džeko

Subs: Zlomislić (GK), Jurkas (GK), Malić, Hadžikadunić, Mujakić, Memić, Hadžiahmetović, Tahirović, Burnić, Mahmić, Bašić, Bajraktarević, Tabaković, Lukić, Baždar