United States, fresh off topping Group D, face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium with Brazilian referee Raphael Claus appointed to take charge; the winner moves on to meet either Belgium or Senegal, putting emphasis on discipline, VAR decisions and tempo control in a high-stakes knockout tie.
Match snapshot: U.S. vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — Round of 32
United States advance after topping Group D and will play Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium in the round of 32. The victor earns a last-16 meeting with either Belgium or Senegal, raising knockout stakes and tactical urgency for both sides.
Referee appointment: Raphael Claus
Raphael Claus, 46, will referee the fixture. This is Claus’ second match at the tournament; he took charge of Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage. A FIFA-listed official since 2015, Claus also worked at the 2022 World Cup and refereed the 2024 Copa América final in Miami.
Style and disciplinary profile
Claus averages around 4.4 yellow cards per game in Brazil’s Serie A across 262 appearances and has issued one red card in 23 international matches. He is widely viewed as a referee who prefers to let play flow and minimize stoppages, but he has no qualms about involving VAR when required — he instructed a stoppage-time offside review to disallow a Spain goal.
Assistant referees and VAR team
Assistants Rodrigo Figueiredo and Danilo Manis will work alongside Claus, with Cristian Navarro listed as reserve assistant. Fourth official Dario Herrera will manage the technical area; Herrera has experience in high-tension domestic fixtures and has issued notable dismissals in his tournament career.
In the VAR hub, Venezuela’s Juan Soto leads the operation, assisted by Colombia’s Nicolas Gallo and France’s Jerome Brisard. Soto has been a frequent presence in the VAR room this tournament and previously recommended overturning a penalty in Belgium’s match against New Zealand.
Key refereeing precedents and controversies
Claus has been involved in high-profile decisions before, including ruling out a Lionel Messi strike after a VAR review during a 2020 qualifier. Those episodes underline his willingness to use VAR to overturn on-field calls, a factor that could decide tight knockout moments here.
How officiating could shape the game
Claus’ inclination to keep play moving favors teams that enjoy quick transitions and high pressing — traits the U.S. often uses offensively. Conversely, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s physical approach and set-piece threat make discipline vital; early cards or a controversial VAR call could tilt momentum. With an active VAR team, marginal decisions on offsides, handball and fouls in build-up will be scrutinized and potentially overturned, affecting tactical choices in the final third.
What to watch
Tactical tempo: Will the U.S. push a fast tempo that benefits from Claus’ flow-focused refereeing?
Aerial duels and set pieces: Bosnia’s physicality could provoke key VAR reviews.
Discipline: Early fouls and cards could change substitution and tactical plans for both teams.
VAR interventions: Expect tight offside and handball checks in any decisive sequences.
Bottom line
The referee appointment is more than administrative: Raphael Claus’ track record of letting games run, combined with a proactive VAR bench, sets up a match where tempo and discipline will directly influence the outcome.
For the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, managing physicality and avoiding match-defining reviews will be as important as tactical execution on the pitch.
Theathleticuk
