Get our USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina prediction, lineups, and betting tips. We analyze the odds and offer top bet builder picks for Thursday's match.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Match Summary
Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
Match Date | Thursday 2 July 2026 |
Match Time | 01:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | RTE 2, BBC 1 |
The World Cup knockout stage throws up a tasty one as the USA host Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, with a place in the next round up for grabs.
The hosts arrive full of belief after topping their group, seeing off Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before a 3-2 defeat to Turkey in a dead rubber that mattered little.
Bosnia squeezed through as one of the best third-placed sides, drawing 1-1 with Canada and losing 4-1 to Switzerland before a crucial 3-1 win over Qatar dragged them into the knockouts.
The two have met three times before, all friendlies, with the USA unbeaten across the lot. This time the stakes are far higher, with a quarter-final spot the prize.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Form
The USA have plenty going for them, banging in 2+ goals in each of their last three World Cup outings. Folarin Balogun set the tone with a first-half brace in the 4-1 rout of Paraguay, and with Christian Pulisic pulling the strings, this is a front line full of threat heading into the tie.
Bosnia's recent results have been messy, with that 4-1 loss to Switzerland a real low. But the 3-1 win over Qatar showed fight, with teenager Kerim Alajbegovic opening the scoring and Ermin Mahmic also on the mark. Veteran Edin Dzeko remains the focal point up top for the visitors.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
USA: Mark McKenzie (Injured/doubtful), Cristian Roldan (Injured/doubtful), Auston Trusty (Injured/doubtful)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Amar Dedic (Injured/doubtful)
USA
The USA have a few question marks at the back, with Mark McKenzie, Cristian Roldan and Auston Trusty all doubtful. That trio aside, Mauricio Pochettino's side look close to full strength, with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun fit and ready to lead the line.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia have a far cleaner bill of health, with only Amar Dedic listed as a doubt for the fixture. That allows the visitors to keep faith with their settled spine, with skipper Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demirovic expected to pair up in attack.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Predicted Lineup
USA
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Tillman, Adams; Dest, McKennie, Pulisic; Balogun
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Formation: 4-4-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Vasilj; Memic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Dzeko, Demirovic
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Key Stats & Match Facts
This is the first ever competitive meeting between the two nations, with all three previous fixtures being friendlies.
The USA are unbeaten in those three friendly meetings, winning 4-3 in 2013 and 1-0 in 2021, with a goalless draw in 2018.
The USA have scored 2+ goals in each of their last three World Cup outings.
Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko brought up his 150th cap for his country in the 3-1 win over Qatar.
The USA win this fixture in six of their last 10 matches against all opponents on the hit-rate data.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: The hosts are clear favourites here and our numbers back them to edge a tight one. We are going for a 1-0 USA win, with Bosnia stubborn but lacking the cutting edge to trouble a home side that should control the fixture.
Best Bets
USA's attacking record makes the home win the obvious starting point, and you can back them at 2/5 with Bet365 to see off a Bosnia side that has won just three of their last 10.
Given the recent form and tactical setup pointing towards a low-scoring contest, Both Teams To Score - No looks the value play at 3/4 with AK Bets, fitting a 1-0 scoreline neatly.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Bet Builder
We have pieced together a four-leg bet builder leaning on Bosnia's attacking outlets and the physical battle to come, combining a goalscorer, a card and a shots on target leg for a tasty price.
Haris Tabakovic to score anytime is leg one. He is a genuine goal threat off the bench or from the start, having hit the net in three of his last four for the visitors.
Nihad Mujakic to be shown a card is leg two. The defender is set for a tough night against a quick USA front line and has been booked in two of his last three.
Ermedin Demirovic over 0.5 shots on target is leg three. The lead forward should test the home keeper and has landed this in four of his last five outings.
Those three legs combine to round out a bet builder built around Bosnia carrying a threat and standing firm in a knockout tie they cannot afford to lose lightly.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 33/1 and is as short as 22/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £110 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Talking Points
This is a huge night for the hosts. Defender Antonee Robinson called it the most important game of their lives, with the USA chasing a first knockout win over a European side and a first quarter-final since 2002. Bosnia, under Sergej Barbarez, are in uncharted territory after reaching their first ever World Cup knockout stage, and Edin Dzeko leading the line at 150 caps gives them a leader who will relish the underdog tag.
USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Predictions FAQs
When is the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup 2026 game?
The fixture kicks off on Thursday, 2 July 2026, at 01:00 UK time.
What is our prediction for this match?
Our prediction and betting tips will be updated with the latest team news, lineups, and form analysis before kickoff.
Where can I find the confirmed lineups?
Confirmed lineups for the match will be available shortly before kick-off, alongside our expert tactical analysis.
What are the best betting tips for the game?
You can find our best bets, odds analysis, and bet builder tips in our detailed match preview above.
Disclaimer
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