Down to 10 men after the expulsion of its superstar goal-scorer, U.S. men’s soccer earned its most important win in a generation Wednesday 2-0 over Bosni

There are two ways to look at the USA’s first knockout game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; they're choosing to take a glass-half-full approach.

Welcome to the first full week of knockout matches, where dreams will be made and hearts broken all across North America and the world. The jeopardy of knockout soccer only adds to the intensity and this is where the weaker teams get found out.

Could you order all of them? Well, that’s what we’re trying to do. The Athletic is ranking every game, from worst to best. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments. Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app Congratulations to Scotland on a first World Cup win in 36 years but a game with 44 fouls and four shots on target (from 24 attempts) was never going to rank too highly here.

The Brazil National Team already knows who it will face in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.Vini Jr., Matheus Cunha & Co. will take on Japan in their first knockout match of the World Cup. Japan

The World Cup round of 32 is well underway, as teams continue to book their places in the last 16.

The USMNT benefited from goals by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32 at Levi's Stadium. Earning the win wasn't easy, though, as Balogun was sent off with a one-goal lead in the second half on a controversial play.

Spain enters the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup looking every bit like one of the tournament favorites as it prepares for a Round of 32 showdown with Austria. Luis de la Fuente’s side advanced from Group H unbeaten,