Jun 30, 2026 · 19 min
USMNT faces a tactical test against Bosnia
USMNT vs Bosnia Round of 32 Preview | Morally Abhorrent
The Round of 32 turns questions about the United States’ goalkeeper, squad rotation, and Pulisic’s fitness into immediate knockout stakes.
- 1Bosnia’s defensive, counter-attacking approach could produce the tight contest the USMNT wants to avoid.
- 2The hosts weigh Patrick Schulte against Matt Turner after a rotated squad faced Turkey.
- 3Christian Pulisic’s return and the Paraguay result shape expectations for the United States’ knockout run.
Don't miss
The hosts connect Paraguay’s subsequent victory over Germany to the significance of the USMNT’s earlier dominant performance.
The brief
Mike Ryan welcomes Tom Bogert of The Athletic to examine the United States’ first knockout-round test: Bosnia and Herzegovina, a defensive side built to counter.
Bosnia’s approach recalls the problems posed by Australia and Paraguay, while Esmeer Bajraktarevic emerges as one of the players the USMNT must account for.
The central selection debate is in goal, where Patrick Schulte and Matt Turner remain competing options after the rotated squad’s meeting with Turkey.
The hosts revisit the USMNT’s dominant win over Paraguay after Paraguay later defeated Germany, then assess how much Christian Pulisic’s return could change the tournament.
Their predictions reflect the pressure of knockout football: Bosnia’s style points toward a narrow, high-stakes match rather than an open contest.
Featuring
Mentioned
United States men's national soccer team
ParaguayListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.