Predicted Lineups: Thursday 2 July — Who Starts as the Round of 32 Heats Up

Three Round of 32 fixtures. Six teams. Every starting XI we expect, built from confirmed squads, injury lists, and the form lines that actually matter.

USA v Bosnia & Herzegovina

The headline selection call here is straightforward and painful for the hosts: Christian Pulišić is a reported doubt, which strips USA of their creative fulcrum and forces a reshuffle in the attacking third of a 4-3-3 that otherwise picks itself.

We keep the defensive four and the midfield engine intact. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie anchor the middle, with Malik Tillman sliding into the pocket role. The big call is who occupies Pulišić's left-sided attacking position: we expect Gio Reyna to get that start, the moment he has been building toward all tournament. Folarin Balogun leads the line, Sergiño Dest operates from the right.

USA (4-3-3)

Tarik Muharemović carries a reported fitness doubt ahead of the fixture, which forces one change to their 5-3-2. We slot Dino Hadžikadunić in as the direct replacement, keeping the rest of the back five intact. Edin Džeko and Ermedin Demirović remain the strike partnership; Armin Gigović, Ivan Šunjić, and Kerim-Sam Alajbegović hold the midfield band.

Bosnia & Herzegovina (5-3-2)

The biggest x-factor is Reyna: if he is sharp from the off, USA have a genuine creative threat to replace what Pulišić provided; if he struggles, Brenden Aaronson is the most likely impact option from the bench.

Spain v Austria

Spain have no injury concerns and no reason to change a team that has won their last two matches in the 2026 tournament, so we expect Luis de la Fuente to name an identical XI to the one that beat Uruguay.

Rodri and Pedri hold the double pivot, Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena provide the wide width in a 4-2-3-1, and Mikel Oyarzabal leads the line. Marcos Llorente continues at right-back, which frees Pedro Porro as a bench option.

Spain (4-2-3-1)

Austria also have a clean injury bill and we see no reason to deviate from the 4-2-3-1 that served them well against Algeria. Alexander Schlager keeps goal, David Alaba anchors the left side of defence, and Marcel Sabitzer drives from the number ten role. Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager provide the midfield cover.

Austria (4-2-3-1)

The biggest selection doubt on the Austrian side is Sandro Kalajdzic, who could push Arnautovic for the starting role if the coaching staff want a more mobile focal point against Spain's high defensive line, but the previous XI gives Arnautovic the nod and we hold that call.

Portugal v Croatia

Portugal head into this one on the back of a draw and a win in their last two outings, and with no reported fitness issues to manage, the 4-2-3-1 that started against Colombia stays intact.

Diogo Costa is in goal, Rúben Dias and Renato Veiga hold the centre, João Cancelo and Nuno Mendes provide the width from full-back. Rúben Neves and Vitinha form the double pivot, Pedro Neto and João Félix operate in the half-spaces either side of Bruno Fernandes, and Cristiano Ronaldo leads the attack.

Portugal (4-2-3-1)

Croatia arrive in form, winning their last two, and Zlatko Dalić has everyone available. Dominik Livaković keeps goal, Joško Gvardiol and Josip Šutalo anchor the centre of defence, with Ivan Perišić slotting at left-back and Josip Stanišić at right-back. Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić run the midfield, Nikola Vlašić and Petar Sučić provide the wider threat either side of Martin Baturina, with Andrej Kramarić leading the line.

Croatia (4-2-3-1)

The biggest x-factor in this fixture is Bruno Fernandes: if he operates at his creative peak in behind Ronaldo, Croatia's double pivot will have a major problem on its hands, and the tie could be decided in the space between Croatia's midfield and back four.

This article was researched and drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team.