USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun pays tribute to LeBron James after scoring in Round of 32 match

U.S. men’s nationalist squad prima Folarin Balogun thought helium had gotten the Americans connected the committee against Bosnia and Herzegovina successful their World Cup lucifer connected Wednesday earlier than helium did

The archetypal changeable that Balogun enactment into the backmost of the nett was called backmost for offside. On his adjacent opportunity, helium would not beryllium denied.

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United States' Folarin Balogun celebrates aft scoring the opening extremity during the World Cup circular of 32 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Bosnia successful Santa Clara, Calif., adjacent San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

As halftime neared, Balogun recovered a spread successful the Bosnian defence and received a bully walk from Malik Tillman. Balogun made the astir of his accidental and scored. Balogun paid tribute to LeBron James, celebrating with the NBA star’s "silencer" move.

The U.S. took a 1-0 pb into the fractional and were lone 45-plus minutes distant from moving connected to the Round of 16.

Balogun has 3 goals successful the tourney truthful far.

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United States' Folarin Balogun (20) celebrates aft scoring the opening extremity during the World Cup circular of 32 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Bosnia successful Santa Clara, Calif., adjacent San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.  (Associated Press)

The U.S. came successful with immoderate momentum adjacent though they mislaid their last group-stage lucifer against Turkey past week. Balogun spoke of the mindset the squad had going into the Round of 32 matchup.

"The crippled is going to beryllium astir america and what we're prepared to do, and what we person to bash to advance," Balogun said. "It’s crunch time. This is the concern end, and this is the signifier where, successful my opinion, the large players measurement guardant and the large players transportation the unit and marque things happen."

Folarin Balogun of USA, Amar Dedic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the World Cup lucifer betwixt USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina astatine the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium connected July 1, 2026 successful San Francisco Bay Area United States. (Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)

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The U.S. reached the semifinals successful the inaugural World Cup successful 1930 erstwhile they won their group. Their lone knockout triumph came successful the 2002 tourney erstwhile they bushed Mexico successful the Round of 16. The tourney expanded to 48 nations this year, which meant an other knockout stage.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.