The United States men's national team gave Mauricio Pochettino the farewell he deserved on Saturday night, thrashing Haiti 6-0 in Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final. Christian Pulisic scored twice in two minutes, 18-year-old Julian Hall marked his big night with a goal, and the Americans turned a tight first half into a rout that all but settles the tie before Tuesday's second leg in Cincinnati.

Key Points

• The USMNT beat Haiti 6-0 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami, in the Nations League quarter-final first leg.
• Christian Pulisic scored in the 62nd and 64th minutes, reaching 35 international goals and passing Eric Wynalda for fourth all time.
• Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, 18, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun scored the other goals.
• It was Mauricio Pochettino's penultimate game as USMNT head coach before he joins Manchester United on November 18.
• The second leg is Tuesday, November 17, in Cincinnati; the winner reaches the Nations League Final Four and the 2027 Gold Cup.

What Happened

The United States controlled the game from the kickoff but needed time to break Haiti down. Auston Trusty opened the scoring in the 10th minute, poking home at the back post from a Sebastian Berhalter free kick after a long VAR check. It was the only goal of a first half in which the Americans held 73 percent of the possession and led 8-2 in shots.

Julian Hall thought he had doubled the lead early in the second half, only for an offside flag to rule out his finish from an Alex Freeman cross. Minutes later Haiti goalkeeper Alex Pierre denied him again in a one-on-one. But in the 52nd minute he finally scored, finishing first time after Christian Pulisic's through ball released Antonee Robinson down the left.

Then came the Pulisic show. Hall backheeled to Pulisic inside the box, and a Haiti defender's desperate lunge sent him to the ground. Pulisic slammed home the 62nd-minute penalty himself, his 34th international goal, tying Eric Wynalda for fourth in USMNT history. Two minutes later he passed him, curling a left-footed finish beyond Pierre for 4-0 and his 35th goal; only Jozy Altidore, on 42, sits ahead of him. Weston McKennie made it 5-0 in the 68th minute, heading home unmarked from a Malik Tillman corner, and Folarin Balogun completed the rout in the 82nd minute, scoring from a Tillman pass after having an earlier goal disallowed by VAR. Lenny Joseph briefly thought he had pulled one back, but VAR ruled his goal out for offside.

Background and Context

Saturday's match was the first official USMNT game since the 2026 World Cup, and it arrived in a week of upheaval. Pochettino's move to Manchester United was confirmed before the break, turning these two Nations League games into a farewell tour for the Argentine and his staff.

Pulisic and McKennie returned to the team after missing recent squads, and Pochettino started Hall, the 18-year-old New York Red Bulls forward, ahead of Balogun. Tyler Adams captained the side, with Kochen behind a back line of Robinson, Trusty, Chris Richards and Freeman.

Haiti arrived as heavy underdogs, having played its home games away from home in recent years. The tie's winner advances to the Final Four in March and books a place at the 2027 Gold Cup.

USMNT Beats Haiti 6-0: Pulisic Passes Wynalda

The headline numbers belong to Pulisic. His two goals in two minutes took him from joint fourth to outright fourth on the USMNT's all-time scoring chart, and he led the game in touches inside the opposition box. After a World Cup in which he was hot and cold by his own high standards, this was the Pulisic America expects: direct, decisive and everywhere.

But the night also belonged to the next generation. Hall, at 18, started ahead of an established striker and still scored the goal that broke the game open. Balogun scored off the bench, and Kochen, playing minutes from his childhood home, kept a clean sheet on a night he said he had dreamed about since he was a kid.

Reactions and Quotes

Balogun was delighted to be back scoring for his country after what he called an up-and-down period since the World Cup. "I'm very happy to be back with the team. After the World Cup it's been a bit of an up-and-down period for me. Feels good to get a win with the boys," he said. His wrist-tap celebration honoured basketball star Damian Lillard. "Just giving homage to Damian Lillard, Dame Time. I just wanted to show it's my time, I'm back."

On Pochettino's departure, Balogun said: "It's difficult. Pochettino is an amazing manager and he's added a lot to us with the national team. It's sad to see a top coach leave."

Kochen, the goalkeeper, said: "It's an unbelievable experience, something I've been dreaming about since I was a kid, to play with these guys and represent the badge. The fact that I grew up 20 minutes from here is even better." Pochettino himself was visibly emotional speaking publicly for the first time about leaving for Manchester United.

Why It Matters

A 6-0 win in a competitive quarter-final is a statement. The United States had questions to answer after the World Cup, about Pulisic's form, about depth, and about whether the young players were ready for big nights. On Saturday, the answers were all yes.

The second leg is now a formality, so Tuesday can be a genuine farewell for Pochettino rather than a nervous night. For Haiti, the defeat measures the gap to the region's best, but reaching this quarter-final was an achievement in itself.

What Happens Next

The second leg takes place on Tuesday, November 17, in Cincinnati. The United States carry a 6-0 aggregate lead, so Pochettino can rotate his side and give minutes to players who did not feature in Miami, including Bryan Reynolds, who won his first cap in years.

After Tuesday, Pochettino and his staff leave for Manchester United, where the Argentine takes charge on November 18. He was appointed as Manchester United's head coach until 2029, and the United States will begin the search for his successor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score, USMNT vs Haiti?
The United States beat Haiti 6-0 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami, in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final.

Who scored for the USMNT?
Auston Trusty (10'), Julian Hall (52'), Christian Pulisic (62' penalty and 64'), Weston McKennie (68') and Folarin Balogun (82').

How many goals does Pulisic have for the USMNT?
Pulisic has 35 goals, passing Eric Wynalda for fourth on the all-time list. Jozy Altidore, on 42, is next ahead of him.

When is the second leg?
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, in Cincinnati. The aggregate winner advances to the Nations League Final Four in March and qualifies for the 2027 Gold Cup.

When does Pochettino join Manchester United?
He leaves the USMNT after Tuesday's second leg and joins Manchester United on November 18, 2026.

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