Landon Donovan spent the whole free kick sequence telling anyone who would listen that Malik Tillman should just smash it low and hard. Low on the goalkeeper’s side. Keep it simple. Don’t try to bend it over the wall like Christian Pulisic does.
Tillman did the exact opposite. And it worked perfectly.
The U.S. midfielder curled a knuckling, dipping free kick past the Bosnian keeper in the 82nd minute Wednesday night, sealing a 2-0 win for the USMNT in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. The goal sent the U.S. through to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2014 and gave them their first knockout stage win over a European team since they stunned Portugal in 2002.
Donovan ate his words on live TV
Donovan was on the broadcast during the buildup to Tillman’s free kick, breaking down what he thought the U.S. should do.
“I’m like, ‘guys, this is so obvious. You put three people at the end of the wall and you smash at the goalkeeper side. Just make sure you hit the target low on that side and hit the plate. Do not go up and over the wall,'” Donovan said around the 12:40 mark of the broadcast.
Then Tillman stepped up. And Donovan changed his tune fast.
“He goes to hit it, and from where I’m standing, it looked like he used the inside of his foot. It didn’t look like it was like an up and down, like Christian’s,” Donovan said. “Then I see the goalie’s hand, and I’m like, ‘that was pretty lucky.’ I thought he bent it with a little up and down, then I watch the replay, and he gets it like knuckling, and it’s like almost over and up and down. The wall kind of half breaks and they don’t jump, but he hit it actually pretty well.”
So Donovan admitted he was wrong. Respect where it’s due.
What’s next for the U.S. after beating Bosnia
The win puts the U.S. in the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years. They’ll face Belgium on July 6 at 8 p.m. ET in a rematch of that brutal 2014 Round of 16 loss where Jurgen Klinsmann’s team pushed Belgium to extra time before falling 2-1.
The U.S. has looked solid so far on home soil. Three wins, one loss, 10 goals scored, three allowed. They’re not blowing anyone away, but they’re finding ways to win.
Belgium is a different animal. The Red Devils have a loaded roster and plenty of tournament experience. But the U.S. has momentum, a home crowd and a scorer who just proved he can pull off something unpredictable.
Tillman’s free kick might have been the opposite of what Donovan recommended. But it got the job done. That’s all that matters.
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