Three Reasons Why Bosnia & Herzegovina Could Upset USMNT in World Cup Knockout Clash
Three Reasons Why Bosnia & Herzegovina Could Upset USMNT in World Cup Knockout Clash
Bosnia & Herzegovina is the tallest team at the 2026 World Cup. Ben Steiner|
Despite its disappointing end, the U.S. men’s national team enjoyed a historic group stage campaign on home soil to kick off the 2026 World Cup. Still, the journey is only really getting started for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
After a stoppage time 3–2 loss to Türkiye on Friday, following initial wins over Australia and Paraguay, the USMNT will take on Group B third-place finishers, Bosnia & Herzegovina, in the round of 32 and enter the game as overwhelming favorites.
While the USMNT’s potential path to a deep World Cup run avoids most of the top-ranked teams, winning won’t necessarily come easy. Bosnia, despite being ranked No. 64 in FIFA Rankings, pushed No. 27 Canada to a 1–1 draw and upset No. 12 Italy in the last stage of World Cup qualifying.
Here, Sports Illustrated looks at three factors that could worry the USMNT ahead of its match against the Balkan nation on Wednesday.
The Sheer Size
Bosnia & Herzegovina is the tallest team at the tournament, averaging 6'1", with defender Stjepan Radeljić as the tallest at a whopping 6'7".
While Radeljić is unlikely to start, the first-choice center back pairing of Tarik Muharemović and Nikola Katić are both over 6'1". It will provide a legitimate physical test for the USMNT attackers, comparable only to what 6'4" Australian defender Harry Souttar offered in the group stage.
Up top, Bosnia veteran star striker Edin Džeko stands at 6'4". In contrast, the skillful and imposing secondary attacking option, Ermedin Demirović, stands at 6'0" but has a wide frame and is tough to push off the ball.
At an average height of 5'11", and as the 21st-tallest team among the 48 at the tournament, the USMNT doesn’t have many large players, and physicality isn’t a key factor in how Pochettino’s men approach games. Bosnia will look to receive the ball in the air more often and will be intense in every challenge, with the advantage in nearly every aerial duel.
The American and the Teenager
Winning the battle in the wide areas will be vital for the USMNT, and wingbacks Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson will play key roles, especially considering the opponents they are likely to battle.
Bosnia’s best young talents are on the wings and can expose space, while also cutting inside to create chances for potent, physically imposing attacking forces. On the right, it’s 21-year-old U.S.-Bosnian Esmir Bajraktarević, and on the left, likely 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović.
Bajraktarević has been outstanding in the biggest games so far and was vital to the World Cup qualifying win over Italy, as well. Born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, he played for the USMNT in friendlies before switching to Bosnia, where his agility and speed have become key points of attack. Alajbegovic, meanwhile, had nine goals and three assists in the Austrian Bundesliga this season and comes off an electrifying performance against Qatar, in which he scored and completed six dangerous dribbles.
The Set Piece Threat
With the Bosnians’ height and imposing stature, set-pieces have become a critical part of their plan. Against Canada, a slight defensive error allowed them to score on a corner kick, and they have found opportunities against both Switzerland and Qatar.
When analyzing where chances come from, Bosnia has produced 0.45 expected goals (xG) from set plays, compared to 1.46 xG from open play, underscoring how critically important dead-ball opportunities are for the team.
It will be challenging for the shorter USMNT to contend for the aerial duels on these set pieces, and goalkeeper Matt Freese likely won’t be able to rise to claim every ball. It makes it extra important for the USMNT to limit how many set pieces they concede.
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BEN STEINERBen Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
