The USMNT is moving on in the World Cup, but nothing about Wednesday night was clean, calm or comfortable.

The United States beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32, punching its ticket to a Round of 16 showdown with Belgium. But the win came with a gut punch: Folarin Balogun, America’s hottest scorer in the tournament, was shown a controversial red card in the second half and will miss the next match.

Balogun had already changed the game before the chaos hit. Just before halftime, the striker buried his third goal of the World Cup after Tim Ream forced a turnover, Tyler Adams kept the move alive and Malik Tillman helped unlock Bosnia’s back line. The ball eventually dropped to Balogun, who calmly finished to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

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For a team carrying real expectations on home soil, that goal felt massive. Bosnia-Herzegovina had frustrated the Americans for most of the first half, sitting deep, clogging lanes and forcing the USMNT wide. The U.S. had possession, but not much bite — until Balogun delivered.

Then came the moment that changed the mood.

Around the hour mark, Balogun collided with Tarik Muharemovic, and after a VAR review, referee Raphael Claus sent him off for serious foul play. Balogun looked stunned, and the decision immediately became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament. The suspension means the USMNT will be without its top goal scorer against Belgium.

That’s a brutal blow. But this version of the United States didn’t fold.

Playing with 10 men, the Americans stayed organized, absorbed pressure and then found a dagger. In the 82nd minute, Malik Tillman stepped over a free kick and whipped a beautiful strike past the Bosnian wall for his first World Cup goal, sealing the 2-0 win and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

It was only the second World Cup knockout win in USMNT history and the first since 2002. It also snapped a 10-game losing streak against European opponents, making the victory feel even bigger.

Now comes Belgium — the same country that ended the U.S. run in 2014. This time, the Americans arrive with momentum, belief and a serious problem to solve up top.

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Balogun won’t be there. But the USMNT still is.

And after surviving the strangest, grittiest night of its tournament so far, this team suddenly looks like one that’s built for more than just a feel-good run.