USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – Bet Builder Tips (World Cup 2026)

Bosnia & Herzegovina will take on co-hosts USA in their first ever World Cup knockout game. The US topped their group with two wins from three, the Balkans secured their spot in the Round of 32 by beating Qatar in their final group game.

There is a genuinely good story buried inside this fixture. Esmir Bajraktarević was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, came through the New England Revolution academy, and even earned a senior USA cap in 2024 under Gregg Berhalter before opting to switch his allegiance to Bosnia.

He went the distance in the penalty shootout win over Italy and converted the clinching kick to send Bosnia to this World Cup. Two of his old USA teammates, Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest — who play alongside him at PSV Eindhoven — admit they hope he comes to regret his decision on Thursday.

I hope he plays well. I just do not think it is enough. 

Here is the number that matters most and the one most previews are skating past. Bosnia scored three of their five group stage goals from set pieces and only one from open play.

Their front two have not scored at all — Edin Džeko is yet to add to his tally of 73 career international goals, and Ermedin Demirović has been kept quiet too. The goals came from a corner header, a stunning solo strike from a teenager, an own goal, and a stoppage-time poke from a substitute.

That is not a five-goal attack — that is a team riding its luck at set pieces. 

USA are short favourites and deservedly so. Folarin Balogun has scored twice and registered one assist in two appearances, and with no fresh fitness concerns reported, Mauricio Pochettino’s first-choice attackers are all set to return after the rotated Turkey defeat.

I have built a three-leg builder with bet365 that respects exactly what the data says about both sides — not just what the scoreline suggests — and it comes in at 3/1.

Check the latest World Cup odds before placing — value remains in the player markets even with USA heavily fancied on the match winner line.

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina match details

• Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
• Kick-off: 1:00 AM BST
• Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara, California, USA
• Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32
• TV channel: BBC One / BBC iPlayer (UK)
• Referee: To be announced

Our 3/1 Bet Builder: Folarin Balogun to score anytime, Christian Pulisic to have 1+ shot on target, Ermedin Demirović to have 1+ shot

USA’s two most dangerous attackers both get involved, and Bosnia’s target man — kept largely quiet by smart USA defending all game — gets one shot away, but not necessarily on target.

Three legs, none dependent on each other, all grounded in what each player has actually shown at this tournament.

• Folarin Balogun to score anytime – 11/10 with bet365
• Christian Pulisic to have 1+ shot on target – 2/5 with bet365
• Ermedin Demirović to have 1+ shot – 2/7 with bet365

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina bet builder breakdown

Folarin Balogun to score anytime

Why: Balogun has scored twice and registered one assist in two appearances for his country at this tournament. He is the focal point of Pochettino’s attack and the player most likely to convert USA’s territorial dominance into goals.

Bosnia have built their tournament on defensive solidity and counter-attacking efficiency, but they are the tallest team at the World Cup with an average height of 6’1″ — meaning they are built to defend in the air, not on the ground against quick, direct attacking play.

Balogun does not need much on an invitation. He has proven that already at this tournament. 

Stat: Balogun’s two goals came in USA’s two group games against Paraguay and Australia. He did not feature for long against Turkey in a fully rotated USA side, but that was to keep him rested and ready for this knockout tie.

Back Folarin Balogun to score anytime at 11/10 with bet365

Christian Pulisic to have 1+ shot on target

Why: Pulisic didn’t play against Australia and played only the first half against Paraguay, but he made a substitute appearance against Turkey and played more than half an hour to ease any concerns about his fitness.

He was directly involved in USA’s opening goal of the tournament, picking up an assist for Balogun before being withdrawn as a precaution. The Americans will need to rely on the one-on-one ability of Pulisic and Malik Tillman rather than bombarding the box with crosses, given Bosnia’s height advantage at the back.

If he starts, as he surely will, Bosnia’s right side will have to watch out.

Stat: Pulisic has 33 goals in 87 international appearances for the USA and was directly involved in USA’s best moments of the tournament so far. A full match at genuine intensity against a side missing key defensive personnel is exactly the platform he needs.

Bet on Christian Pulisic to have 1+ shot on target at 2/5 with bet365

Ermedin Demirović to have 1+ shot

Why: This is the leg that respects Bosnia properly rather than writing them off entirely. Dzeko’s support in the final third comes from Demirovic, who started every group game as the side’s primary outlet.

Even in a defensive system designed to frustrate and counter, the target man still gets service from set pieces and long balls — three of Bosnia’s five group stage goals came from exactly that source.

This leg does not require Bosnia to break USA down through open play. It simply requires Demirovic to get one sighter at goal, which a player of his quality typically manages even in a losing performance. 

Stat: Demirovic has not scored in three group games but has remained Bosnia’s most consistent aerial outlet throughout the tournament, with set pieces and direct balls his primary route to a chance.

Back Ermedin Demirović to have 1+ shot at 2/7 with bet365

How to place USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina bet builder with bet365

1. Log in to your bet365 account or register if you are a new customer
2. Navigate to the football section and find USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina under World Cup 2026
3. Select the Bet Builder feature from the menu at the top of the match page
4. Add Folarin Balogun to score anytime — the builder calculates the combined price automatically
5. Add Christian Pulisic to have 1+ shot on target
6. Add Ermedin Demirovic to have 1+ shot
7. Once all three legs are showing click Add to Bet Slip
8. Enter your stake and confirm — double check the combined odds match 3/1 before placing

This is a 1am BST kick-off so plan your night accordingly. Check the latest World Cup betting offers before you head to bed — operator promotions on knockout stage matches are running right through the week.

Stats that matter for your bet

When putting together this bet builder, keep an eye on stats which:

• Support Balogun to score: Balogun has two goals in the group stage, both in the win over Paraguay, with an assist from Pulisic on his first.
• Support Pulisic shot on target: Pulisic made a substitute appearance against Turkey and played more than half an hour, easing any fitness concerns ahead of this knockout tie.
• Support Demirovic shot: Bosnia scored three of their five group stage goals from set pieces and only one from open play — Demirovic remains their primary aerial target regardless of the scoreline.
• Team news: Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are all set to feature in the starting XI. Tarik Muharemovic missed the Qatar game following his red card against Switzerland but is back for this one — a major boost for Bosnia’s defence. Amar Dedic is a doubt with a thigh issue, with Amar Memic the likely alternative if he fails to recover.

Why we are backing this USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina bet builder

This builder is built on what actually happened in the group stage, not what the final scorelines suggest.

USA dominate territory and chances, and their two best attackers — Balogun and Pulisic — both get involved as they have all tournament.

Bosnia, for all their resilience and the genuine achievement of reaching this stage, have scored only once from open play across the entire group stage — but Demirovic and the aerial route remain a live threat from set pieces, which is exactly the kind of moment that could see Bosnia get on the scoresheet even in defeat.

Three legs, all independently justified, none of them requiring the others to land, and none of them requiring USA to keep a clean sheet either. At 3/1 with bet365 this is a builder I trust.

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina odds

• USA win – 8/25 with bet365
• Draw – 4/1 with bet365
• Bosnia & Herzegovina win – 44/5 with bet365

USA vs Bosnia & Herzegovina match prediction and line-ups

My prediction is USA 3-1.

Bosnia have already exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2014 and their journey to this point is already a success story regardless of what happens in Santa Clara. But the underlying numbers across the group stage do not lie — USA have too much quality going forward.

The main caveat is that Bosnia have found the net in all three of their three group games, and there is no reason to think that pattern disappears entirely in a knockout game.

Demirovic, at well over six feet, remains exactly the kind of outlet who can nick a consolation from a corner or a long ball even in a heavy defeat.

Balogun scores twice, Pulisic is heavily involved, and Bosnia get one back late on before USA see it out.

Prediction: USA 3-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Back USA to win 
• Folarin Balogun to score anytime

USA predictions (4-2-3-1): USA are projected in a 4-2-3-1 under Mauricio Pochettino, with Folarin Balogun leading the line, Christian Pulisic and Sergino Dest operating wide, Weston McKennie advanced centrally, and Tyler Adams screening alongside Malik Tillman.

USA built much of their play down the right through Alex Freeman, Dest and McKennie.

• Predicted XI: [Goalkeeper to confirm]; Freeman, Richards, [Partner CB to confirm], Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Pulisic; Balogun

Bosnia & Herzegovina predictions (4-4-2): Nikola Vasilj continues in goal, with a reputation as something of a penalty-stopping specialist that could matter in the knockout phase.

Tarik Muharemovic returns from his one-match suspension to partner Nikola Katic at centre-back, a major boost for Bosnia’s defence. Amar Dedic is a doubt with a thigh issue, with Amar Memic the likely deputy.

Sergej Barbarez has overhauled the squad’s mentality since the Switzerland defeat and Demirovic continues to support Džeko up front, aiming to finally get on the scoresheet at this tournament.

• Predicted XI: Vasilj; Memic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Basic, Sunjic, Alajbegovic; Dzeko, Demirovic

About the author

Dean Etheridge

Dean Etheridge is an experienced freelance sports betting writer who specialises in football, cricket, and darts, with a keen focus on the Premier League and Champions League, as well as in-depth coverage of Premier League Darts and major tournaments. He can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game and beyond, delivering expert analysis across a range of sports. He predominantly covers the Premier League and Champions League but can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game. You can follow Dean on LinkedIn (@deanetheridge)

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