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USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina Betting Tips & Predictions – Balogun to Fire USA to Victory at the World Cup 2026

vedran-ostojic
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Last updated: Mon 29 Jun 2026 11:39
The USA enters their upcoming clash with Bosnia & Herzegovina as clear favorites, having scored eight goals in the group stage and displaying strong all-around play. Bosnia & Herzegovina has struggled defensively and relies heavily on individual efforts in attack, making them underdogs in this match-up. Key recommendation: expect USA to control the game, with Folarin Balogun a strong candidate to score, given Bosnia’s vulnerability against top forwards.
Vedran Ostojic 1 hour ago
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  • USA left a strong impression in the group phase, netting 8 goals
  • We are backing them to score early and beat Bosnia & Herz.
  • Check our full preview for USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina below
Folarin Balogun netted a brace against Paraguay (Getty)

Defending has been Bosnia & Herzegovina’s biggest weakness and I don’t think they have answers for USA’s attacking potency. I am predicting an easy win for the Stars and Stripes. 

Key Stats  


  • USA have won 2 of their last 3 matches. 
  • Folarin Balogun has scored 2 goals in his last 2 matches for USA. 
  • USA have scored in both halves in 2 of their last 3 matches. 
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 matches. 

Three Previous Meetings 


All three h2h matches were international friendlies, USA claiming two victories, one ending without a winner. 

Hosts Carry High Scoring Potential 


USA started the tournament with a convincing 4-1 victory against Paraguay, Folarin Balogun stealing the spotlight here by netting a quick brace. They finished this clash with 1.34-0.47 xG, 65% possession and 6-1 shots on target.   

Another dominant display was witnessed in the second round in a 2-0 win over Australia, netting both goals in the first half through Cameron Burgess (own goal) and Alexander Freeman.   

Mauricio Pochettino rested a majority of his starters in the third match against Turkey which was quite entertaining to watch, the Crescent Stars scoring in stoppage time to claim a 3-2 victory. USA had 2.12 xG and 7-3 shots on target here. 

The Dragons Had Zero Clean Sheets so Far 


Bosnia & Herzegovina advanced to the knockout stage as 3rd placed team in Group B, finishing behind Switzerland and Canada, ahead of Qatar. 

They were more than happy with a 1-1 initial draw against co-hosts Canada where Jovo Lukic’s header put them ahead in the 21st minute but ultimately conceded equalizer. The Dragons had 0.98-1.23 xG, 39% possession and 3-4 shots on target here.   

Sergej Barbarez’s side defended well against favored Switzerland in the second round for 74 minutes when they conceded first goal, while their best defender Tarik Muharemovic was sent off a couple of minutes later. This led to a collapse, losing the encounter 4-1.   

Bosnia & Herzegovina stepped up in the final round and cruised past Qatar 3-1. One of the biggest rising stars in Europe, Kerim Alajbegovic played a huge role here, scoring from long range to break the deadlock early. 

Team News & Predicted Lineups 


USA (4-2-3-1) Matt Freese; Marlon Freeman, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson; Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman; Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic; Folarin Balogun

Mauricio Pochettino must assess late fitness tests for Christian Roldan, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty, all three nursing minor injuries. The captain Christian Pulisic should be ready for at least 90 minutes.

Bosnia-Herzegovina (4-4-2) Nikola Vasilj; Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac; Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ivan Sunjic, Toma Basic, Kerim Alajbegovic; Edin Dzeko, Ermedin Demirovic

Amar Dedic is nursing a thigh injury but the latest reports state he should be in the starting lineup. Bosnia's playoff hero Haris Tabakovic is still listed as injured, while their arguably best defender Tarik Muharemovic is back after serving a suspension.

Verdict

USA looked very strong in the group stage, netting eight goals in total, and I don’t expect them to struggle against underdog Bosnia & Herzegovina, who have looked weak defensively and also rely mostly on individual plays going forward.

Also, the Dragons had a lot of problems stopping strong forwards like Cyle Larin and Johan Manzembi, which leads to a logical pick Folarin Balogun to score anytime. 

Best Bet1: USA Win HT-FT Half-Time/Full-Time Result @1/1 at Hollywood bets - 3 Units
Best Bet2: USA To Score in Both Halves @6/5 at bet365 - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Folarin Balogun Anytime Goalscorer @6/5 at Star Sports - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: USA Win 3-0 Correct Score @15/2 at Hollywood bets - 1 Unit
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