United States defeats Haiti 6-0 in CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals first leg

The United States men's national soccer team defeated Haiti 6-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals on November 14, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida. The victory marks the largest win during the tenure of head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The match was relocated from Jamaica to Miami because of ongoing political unrest and gang violence in Haiti.

United States offensive performance

Auston Trusty opened the scoring for the United States in the 10th minute following a free-kick from Sebastian Berhalter. Julian Hall expanded the lead in the 52nd minute after receiving a cross from Antonee Robinson. Christian Pulisic contributed two goals to the scoreline, scoring a penalty in the 62nd minute and a second goal from outside the box in the 63th minute.

Weston McKennie scored a header in the 68th minute to further the advantage. Folarin Balogun scored the final goal in the 82nd minute. Although a goal by Folarin Balogun was disallowed by VAR for a foul on Carlens Arcus during the build-up, the United States maintained a dominant offensive presence throughout the match.

Pulisic breaks scoring record

During the match, Christian Pulisic reached 35 goals for the United States. This achievement allowed him to surpass the 34 goals previously recorded by former player Eric Wynalda. Pulisic had previously missed exhibition matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada due to a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula. That injury occurred during a 4-1 loss to Belgium at the World Cup's round of 16.

Folarin Balogun has now reached 13 total international goals. The United States performance comes as Mauricio Pochettino prepares for his scheduled departure to manage Manchester United. This fixture served as the penultimate match for Pochettino as the head coach of the United States national team.

Upcoming quarterfinal match

Folarin Balogun stated that Pochettino is an amazing manager who added a lot to the team. The player noted that while it is sad to see a top coach leave, it is part of the sport.

The second leg of the quarterfinals is scheduled for November 17, 2026, in Cincinnati. The United States will look to maintain their momentum as they advance toward the next stage of the tournament.

Glossary

• CONCACAF Nations League — The CONCACAF Nations League is an event in which the team has participated. It is listed alongside other competitions such as the Gold Cup and the Caribbean Nations Cup.
• Nu Stadium — Nu Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium located in Miami, Florida, United States. It serves as the home field for Inter Miami of Major League Soccer (MLS).
• quarterfinals — The quarterfinals are a stage of a tournament where the winners advance to the Final Four. In this context, the matches are scheduled to take place in March 2026.
• free-kick — A free-kick is a method of scoring a goal. It is a type of play used during a match.
• penalty — A penalty is a type of play that can occur during a race or match. In racing, a drive-through penalty can result from contact between competitors.