USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Tips, Odds & Prediction for World Cup 2026

* Odds from Betway, accurate at the time of writing.

Co-hosts the USA face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Thursday, kicking off at 02:00 CAT in this 2026 World Cup Round of 32 tie. The USA won Group D and rested a number of key players in their meaningless loss to Turkey, so a stronger eleven comes back in, while Bosnia-Herzegovina made the knockouts for the first time as one of the top third placed teams. With home support and a fresh first choice side, the hosts are clear favourites. You can find all our World Cup betting tips in our dedicated section.

USA

The USA won Group D after beating Paraguay and Australia, before a heavily rotated team lost a dead rubber to Turkey, which I am happy to ignore. Importantly, Mauricio Pochettino rested Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, who were all on yellow cards, in that last group match, so the four of them come back fresh and ready. Balogun has been the star with two goals against Paraguay, and with Christian Pulisic over a calf issue the hosts look a real threat. I think the USA will press high and use the home crowd to put Bosnia under pressure from the start.

Expected Lineup: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Tillman; Dest, Balogun, Pulisic.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina have reached the knockouts for the first time after beating Qatar 3-1, having already knocked out Italy and Wales on penalties just to make the finals. I see them as a tough, physical team built around evergreen 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko and the in form Ermedin Demirovic in attack. They will set up in a deep 4-4-2, guard their box and use Dzeko as a target man, with set pieces their best chance of scoring. With no big injury or suspension problems reported, I think they will frustrate the USA and make this anything but easy.

Expected Lineup: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko.

With their first choice eleven back and the home fans behind them, I think the USA will take control by going on the attack. Bosnia-Herzegovina will sit deep and depend on Dzeko, but I believe the hosts have the energy and class to break them down. I expect a composed USA win with a clean sheet as they book their place in the last 16. My forecast: USA 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0.

BTTS: No (1.67)

My pick is for both teams not to score, as I believe the USA can keep a clean sheet against a limited Bosnia attack. With Richards and Robinson returning to strengthen the defence, the hosts have the players to deal with Dzeko, and Bosnia find it hard to create many attacking chances. I see the USA scoring and keeping the visitors out.