Goals from Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman secured the US a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina and with it a place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
The United States earned their first knockout-round victory since 2002, but it wasn't easy after Balogun, who scored in the 45th minute, was shown a red card just after the hour mark.
Matt Freese made three saves for his second clean sheet of the tournament to the delight of the roaring crowd.
Tillman then scored a superb free kick on 82 minutes to secure safe passage for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
The US will next play Belgium in Seattle on Monday. The Belgians pulled out a 3-2 win over Senegal after extra time earlier Wednesday.
Balogun gave the US a 1-0 halftime lead with a wicked spin and shot from the top of the box. He followed a formula that worked in the first match against Paraguay when he had an early goal reversed because of an offside call before putting one on the scoreboard that stuck.
This time, he was offside in the 31st minute, but he would not be denied 14 minutes later. It was his third goal of the tournament, but he will now serve a suspension.
Best photos of the 2026 World Cup - in pictures
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US President Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino alongside the 2026 World Cup champions: Spain. Reuters -
Ferran Torres scores Spain's first goal past Argentina's Emiliano Martinez in the 106th minute of extra time at the World Cup final. Reuters -
Argentina's Lionel Messi after losing out to Spain in the final. Reuters -
England's players with their medals, after winning the third-place play-off against France in Miami. AFP -
French striker Kylian Mbappe challenges English defender Ezri Konsa at the Miami Stadium. AFP -
England forward Bukayo Saka, centre, celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal. AFP -
Enzo Fernandez of Argentina celebrates scoring the equaliser against England at Atlanta Stadium. AFP -
Anthony Gordon scores the opening goal for England against Argentina. EPA -
Spain's players celebrate after beating France to reach the World Cup final. Reuters -
Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, left, is challenged by French defender Theo Hernandez in Arlington. AFP -
France forward Kylian Mbappe shows his disappointment during the semi-final defeat to Spain. AFP -
Mikel Merino celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Belgium in Inglewood. AFP -
Messi controls the ball against Switzerland's Granit Xhaka during the quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland in Kansas City. AFP -
Jude Bellingham celebrates after winning the quarter-final match between Norway and England in Miami. AFP -
France talisman Kylian Mbappe was on target in his team's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco. EPA -
Gessime Yassine looks dejected after the match as Morocco's World Cup comes to an end. Reuters -
Fans in Buenos Aires celebrate Argentina's victory against Egypt. Getty Images -
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's second goal against Egypt in Atlanta. AFP -
Gregor Kobel of Switzerland saves Cucho Hernandez's penalty for Colombia in the shoot-out in Vancouver. AFP -
Portugal's Bernardo Silva is left in disbelief after a missed chance against Spain, in Arlington. Reuters -
Cristiano Ronaldo is dejected after the match against Spain, as his Portugal team are eliminated from the World Cup. Reuters -
Belgium's Hans Vanaken scores their third goal past Matt Freese of the US, in Seattle. Reuters -
Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere scores their first goal against the US. Reuters -
Australian referee Alireza Faghani shows a red card to England defender Jarell Quansah against Mexico. AFP -
Erling Haaland scores his and Norway's second goal against Brazil. AFP
The US kept their defensive shape, pinning Bosnia and Herzegovina deep, resulting in a giveaway that led to the ball pinging off Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic.
Balogun ran onto the loose ball, stopped, turned to his left and fired in his third goal of the tournament.
A few minutes later in first-half stoppage time, Balogun pounded a shot off the crossbar from a pass by Sergino Dest.
The match took an ominous turn for the US in the 64th minute when Balogun was issued a straight card when challenging for a header, his right foot landed on Muharemovic's left ankle.
There was no foul called initially by referee Raphael Claus, but he reviewed the play and issued the red card.
Balogun became the first player to score and be red-carded in a World Cup knockout match since France's Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the 2006 final against Italy.
Tielemans keeps cool to send Belgium through
Belgium will extend their stay in the Pacific Northwest following the latest dramatic ending in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
With five minutes of regulation time remaining, Senegal looked to have clinched a place in the last 16. They led through goals from Habib Diarra and Ismailia Sarr but Belgium rallied through Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to send the game into extra time.
With neither side able to find a third goal, the game looked to be heading for a shoot-out, until Tielemans was bundled over in the box.
Following a lengthy VAR review, Belgium were awarded a penalty. Lukaku initially grabbed the ball to take the spot kick but handed it over to Belgium captain Tielemans, who kept his shot low to score in the 125th minute.
It was the latest goal in World Cup history.
"Now we must recuperate, recuperate, recuperate, because it is hard on the legs," Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. "In extra time it's like two boxers, we kept fighting and fighting.
"I believe in the quality of this side," Garcia said. "It's not the best of all time, but tonight we wrote history."
Garcia, who called Senegal the best African team in the tournament, said the penalty call was "justified." Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was also asked multiple times for his opinion, but declined to offer one.
"Some people said there should not be [a foul given]," Thiaw said. "I do not want to interpret the referee's decision. There's always room for interpretation. I'd rather not comment on him. I'd rather not comment at all."
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