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While the U.S. men's national team heads into the World Cup round of 32 clash against Bosnia & Herzegovina as the clear favorite, that doesn't mean the squad can afford to take things lightly.
The Americans are carefully planning and preparing for Wednesday's fixture at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., accounting for every distinct challenge that the Balkan side will bring to the table.
Bosnia is certainly not a team to be taken lightly. Despite finishing third in a reasonably competitive Group B, Bosnia impressively held Canada to a 1–1 draw in the co-host's World Cup opener in Toronto and found the net in all three of their group stage outings for a combined total of five goals. Most notably, Bosnia secured its place in North America by eliminating globally 14th-ranked Italy during World Cup qualifying.
The Bosnians also boast the tallest squad in the entire tournament, averaging approximately 6'2" in height compared to the U.S.'s 5'11", surpassing even the towering Norwegians. Center backs 6'4" Nikola Katic and 6'2" Tarik Muharemovic form a particularly formidable defensive pairing.
The knockout stage has already demonstrated that no team is guaranteed safety, with Germany suffering a stunning defeat to Paraguay and five-time world champion Brazil barely scraping past Japan. The U.S. is well aware that there is no room for complacency.
"We're expecting a really tough game," USMNT star forward Christian Pulisic told FOX Sports on Tuesday. "We saw a lot of good things from them in the group stage, and we've seen in the knockouts so far that there hasn't been an easy game for anyone, so we're not expecting an easy game at all. It's going to be a really good battle. We are going to have to put on a really good performance if we want to win."
Veteran captain Tim Ream told reporters on Tuesday: "We know they are a strong team and a physical team. They have obviously qualified and made it through the group stages for a reason. It's not a fluke that they have gone through the playoffs and knocked Italy out and made it through to the World Cup."
Here's how the USMNT plans to overcome Bosnia & Herzegovina and secure a spot in the round of 16.
USMNT's Tactical Plan
Bosnia operates in a 4-4-2 formation. The balanced and flat defensive lines, with four players spread across, are well-suited to deploying a low block. Rather than attack-minded wingers, the lineup features outside midfielders who drop deeper. The formation allows the entire team to sit back and remain compact near their own goal, prioritizing defensive solidity. The Balkan side will likely opt for a low block, given the attacking quality of the U.S. and the co-host's status as heavy favorites. Bosnia will be focused on limiting the Americans' ability to penetrate the final third while looking to spring quick counterattacks at every opportunity.
The U.S. has a strategy to dismantle Bosnia's low block, however. "Just moving the ball quick, as quick as we possibly can," Ream emphasized. "Side to side, getting runs in behind. Just really unbalancing their shape...It's just going to be about moving the ball quickly and getting into areas that they are uncomfortable with."
The USMNT will likely deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, which is well-suited to breaking down a low block. The fullbacks, expected to be Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman, will need to exploit the wide areas in attack, drawing Bosnia's outside midfielders away from the center of the pitch. In doing so, the U.S.'s three central midfielders—Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman—will enjoy a numerical advantage in the middle of the field, facing just two true central midfielders.
The trio will have greater space to operate and express themselves creatively, finding ways to split Bosnia's defensive line. McKennie and Tillman, in particular, are renowned for their creativity in possession and will feel confident in their capacity to break down Bosnia & Herzegovina's defensive structure.
The most inventive American in possession, however, remains Pulisic, who draws the ball to his feet before gliding past two or three defenders on his own. He is expected to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday, having fully recovered from his calf injury.
"I'm feeling good. It's been a good week of preparation," Pulisic said. "I felt really good in the last game, so I'm excited to go tomorrow."
Beyond seeking swift counterattacks, Bosnia will also look to exploit its height advantage, particularly during set pieces and aerial duels.
"We will have to pay attention in all aspects, in all moments of the game. Set pieces will probably play a big part," Ream added.
While the U.S. does have aerial threats on its roster, including Chris Richards and Auston Trusty, the team should not count on winning many aerial battles. The Stars and Stripes are better served keeping the ball on the ground and minimizing corner kicks as much as possible. The USMNT excelled at this during the group stage, conceding just seven corner kicks across all three matches. By comparison, the Americans earned 19 corner kicks of their own.
"We need to do everything we did in the group stages and then some," Ream said.
USMNT Beats All World Cup Teams in One Major Stat
The USMNT is particularly well-equipped to handle one significant additional challenge of the knockout round: the very real prospect of an extra 30 minutes of overtime and even a penalty shootout, given that a winner must be decided in these single-elimination ties.
The Stars and Stripes reportedly covered more ground on the pitch during the group stage than any other team in the tournament. The Americans collectively ran 119.54 kilometers—over 74 miles—across their three matches. Germany covered the second-greatest combined distance at 118.85 kilometers, or 73 miles.
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"That says a lot about where we are physically," Ream said about the team's fitness levels. "It says a lot about where we are mentally, so we are absolutely where we want to be and ready to go for whatever happens."
"We are fully prepared," he added. "In a lot of moments, our training sessions are tougher, more condensed than a game."