Who will USA play next? Here is USMNT's 2026 World Cup bracket opponent for Round of 16

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The United States began its knockout stage with a flourish against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night. The team hopes it's the start of a lengthy World Cup run.

LIVE: Follow USA vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina updates from 2026 World Cup game

The Americans downed Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, surging out in front courtesy of goals by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman. It was a fairly comfortable victory for the USMNT, although Balogun's red card offered a brief shock to the sytem.

As the host country, the United States has the advantage of playing games on its own soil throughout the tournament, which means there are high expectations for the Americans. Its first outing against the Dragons was just the start USMNT supporters were hoping for, although its next opponent figures to be a little less forgiving than its predecessor.

Here's a breakdown of the United States' full bracket in the World Cup.

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Who will USA play next?

With the United States' win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, the USMNT will take on Belgium in the Round of 16.

If the United States defeats Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, the USMNT will then play the winner of Belgium vs. Senegal in the Round of 16. The Belgians overcame a two-goal deficit to down the Lions of Teranga on Wednesday afternoon, claiming a win via a last-minute Youri Tielemans penalty.

The USMNT should feel confident about its prospects in the contest. While Belgium has a star-laden roster, the Americans have looked far the better of the two sides in the tournament thus far.

How does the World Cup bracket work?

The World Cup bracket is a single-elimination tournament, so the winner of each match moves on, and the loser of each match goes home. The group stage was used to determine seeding and which 32 teams earned the right to play in the knockout stage.

Simply put, the United States must win every game moving forward or else the team will be eliminated from contention. There are no ties in the knockout stage, with extra time and penalty kicks now available to determine a winner if the score is tied through regulation.

MORE USMNT NEWS:

USA World Cup schedule 2026 and route to final

Group Stage

Date	Match No.	Matchup
June 12	Group Stage, Match 1	USA 4, Paraguay 1
June 19	Group Stage, Match 2	USA 2, Australia 0
June 25	Group Stage, Match 3	Turkey 3, USA 2