The United States men’s national soccer team advanced to the FIFA World Cup round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, but it was the players’ postgame prayer that also drew widespread attention.
After the final whistle, defender Mark McKenzie gathered the team on the field for a prayer of thanks, with players bowing their heads before ending together with a collective “Amen.” Video of the moment quickly spread across social media, prompting responses from several conservative and Christian public figures who praised the team’s public expression of faith.
The victory came despite a major setback during the match. Leading scorer Folarin Balogun, who has three goals in the tournament, received a controversial red card in the 64th minute after a video review involving Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic. The decision was criticized by multiple sports analysts, including former referee Andy Davies, who argued the contact appeared accidental and questioned whether proper VAR protocols were followed.
Playing the final 30 minutes with 10 men, the United States held on before midfielder Malik Tillman sealed the 2-0 win with a direct free-kick goal in the 82nd minute. The Americans will face Belgium in the round of 16.
