USA shifts all focus to Bosnia and Herzegovina in round of 32: 'We'll be ready'
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USA shifts all focus to Bosnia and Herzegovina in round of 32: 'We'll be ready'
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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4 min read
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INGLEWOOD, CA — Rinse it off. Wipe it away. Spit it out. Throw it in the trash can.
Whatever it is, that's how theU.S. men's national teamis dealing withits shocking last-second loss to Turkeyto end its group stage. Instead of dwelling on a match it didn't look all too fantastic in and worrying about how it affects the momentum that came from claiming Group D in just two contests, you wouldn't have guessed this was a squad that just got a very bad taste in its mouth.
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Time to move on, and get ready for the round of 32 in what could be the most critical moment in U.S. soccer history.
Besides winning all three group matches for the first time in its World Cup history and letting the home crowd witness a victory, the U.S. didn't have much to gain inside SoFi Stadium on Thursday, June 25. The result was inconsequential, and coach Mauricio Pochittino proved it by putting out a starting XI full of reserves, which nearly got a point.
Really, the only thing the U.S. hoped to know was who its round of 32 opponent would be. It found out exactly an hour before kickoffit would be Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It's unknown whenUSMNTwas informed of the date for its July 1 matchup in Seattle, but it was clearly aware of it just a few minutes after walking off the pitch, focusing on that rather than worrying about what unfolded.
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"We're at a top level. I'm not worried whatsoever," said midfielderBrenden Aaronson. "We're going to move on to the next one and be ready to go for Bosnia."
MidfielderTyler Adamssaid he had watched some of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the tournament, but they "haven't analyzed them a lot" so they will need to go into full scouting.
But don't be fooled by it being a third-place team playing in the knockout round for the first time in its history. You don't need much research to know it's a Bosnia and Herzegovina team that will be set on playing spoiler to the host nation —fe2 something it has experience doing already.
Fans of theUnited Statesenjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
A fan wears United States themed shoes and socks outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan wears face paint outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan wears an eagle mask outside the stadium before the match.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fans outside the stadium before the match.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Fans of the United States are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan poses outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fans outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fan poses with a flag outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fans pose outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
United States fans pose with a flag outside the stadium before the match.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
1/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of theUnited Statesenjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
1/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of theUnited Statesenjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
2/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
A fan wears United States themed shoes and socks outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
3/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
4/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan wears face paint outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
5/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan wears an eagle mask outside the stadium before the match.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
6/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fans outside the stadium before the match.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
7/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
8/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
9/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
10/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
11/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
12/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
13/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
14/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
15/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
16/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans pose for a photograph ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
17/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
18/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
Fans of the United States are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
19/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
20/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan poses outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
21/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
22/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fans outside the stadium before the match.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
23/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fan poses with a flag outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
24/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fans pose outside the stadium before the match.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
25/25
Fans bring red white and blue energy to World Cup game with Turkey
United States fans pose with a flag outside the stadium before the match.
While the USMNT isn't all worried about momentum, Bosnia and Herzegovina can certainly ride on it. There's also the U.S. struggles against European teams, losing 10 straight matches to opposition from the continent and not beating one since 2021. That run was extended with the loss to Turkey.
"[Bosnia and Herzegovina] are a good team," saidSebastian Berhalter, one of USMNT's goal-scorers on Thursday. "It's a round of 32 do-or-die game, so we'll be ready."
There's also the pressure that will now ramp up a few notches. After such a blazing start to this tournament, which had fans buying stock into this being a team that could have its best World Cup run ever, it now has to back up the hype. You can't do that with a one-and-done appearance in the knockout round, which has happened in USMNT's last three World Cup tournaments.
Losing on your home territory would just make it worse, making it pretty much necessary to win, and recapture the spark from the matches againstParaguayandAustraliathat captivated a nation.
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"There's a lot of media and you're in your country and it's a big deal and stuff like that, but we just go out there and we want to play football," Aaronson said. "There's going to be pressure, that's football, especially when you're at the World Cup. But we're really ready to go and we're going to take this Bosnia game and do the best we can."
If USMNT can snap its European drought, it couldhave Egypt or South Koreain the round of 16, and possibly in the quarterfinals, tournament favoriteSpainin the way of reaching the semifinals for the first time since 1930.
It's one game at a time, but Team USA needs to be ready for this stretch of play. In fact, that was the prevalent message amongst the U.S. squad: "We'll be ready."
