After last-32 upsets, US approach is simple: ‘We’re not going to go crazy’

US plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening Edin Džeko poses a challenge for US center backs Few knew what to expect from the newly hatched last 32 when Fifa expanded the field for the 2026 World Cup. After Monday, we’ve gotten an answer: it resembles international knockout soccer as we’ve known it to be. Favorites (such as Germany and the Netherlands) can’t rest on their laurels. Complacent play can, and often is, punished. The outside expectation is that the US enter Wednesday’s last-32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina as favorites, especially so given they will have a considerable home-field advantage at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Continue reading...

Jeff Rueter in Santa Clara, California · Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 1:35 PM
US news | The Guardian

After last-32 upsets, US approach is simple: ‘We’re not going to go crazy’

US plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening
Edin Džeko poses a challenge for US center backs

Few knew what to expect from the newly hatched last 32 when Fifa expanded the field for the 2026 World Cup. After Monday, we’ve gotten an answer: it resembles international knockout soccer as we’ve known it to be. Favorites (such as Germany and the Netherlands) can’t rest on their laurels. Complacent play can, and often is, punished.

The outside expectation is that the US enter Wednesday’s last-32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina as favorites, especially so given they will have a considerable home-field advantage at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

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