The United States defeated Haiti 6-0 in Miami on Saturday 14 November 2026, in the first leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. Christian Pulisic scored twice in 101 seconds, while Auston Trusty, Julian Hall, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun scored once each. The score leaves the Americans with a six-goal advantage before the return match in Cincinnati on 17 November, according to a report published by the United States Soccer Federation.
Trusty opens the scoring before the break
The American defence supplied the first goal in the 10th minute. Sebastian Berhalter delivered a free kick from the right and Trusty met it at the far post, finding the net before video officials confirmed that he had remained onside. Haiti did not spend the whole half defending. Danley Jean Jacques forced goalkeeper Diego Kochen into a save in the 16th minute, and Chris Richards made a timely intervention against Lenny Joseph. Those chances showed that the visitors in Miami could threaten on the counterattack. Even so, the scoreboard read only 1-0 at the interval.
Hall doubles the advantage in the second half
The attacking pattern changed after half-time. In the 52nd minute a counterattack developed through Pulisic, who released Antonee Robinson on the left. Robinson’s low cross reached 18-year-old Julian Hall, who took a composed touch and finished. It was Hall’s fourth goal in five appearances for the senior national side. Scoring early in the second period mattered in the context of a two-legged quarter-final: it increased Haiti’s deficit just as they were trying to stay within reach. The young striker’s movement also demonstrated how quickly the American attackers could find space after regaining possession.
Pulisic scores twice in little more than a minute
Pulisic won and converted a penalty in the 62nd minute. The AC Milan forward then scored again in the 63rd after receiving a pass from Alex Freeman and shooting from outside the penalty area. His goals, the 34th and 35th of his international career, moved him into sole possession of fourth place on the US men’s scoring list. That rapid burst changed the result from 2-0 to 4-0 and effectively decided the night’s contest. The federation’s account records how the two goals came from different situations, one a penalty and the other an open-play shot.
McKennie and Balogun complete the six-goal win
Weston McKennie made it five with a header from a Malik Tillman corner in the 68th minute. Substitute Folarin Balogun finished another Tillman pass in the 82nd to complete the scoring. Haiti briefly appeared to have scored, but the effort was ruled out after a video review established an offside. The US Soccer report credited the Americans with 71% possession, 10 shots on target and 90% pass accuracy. Kochen kept a clean sheet, and five goals in one half turned a close opening period into an emphatic victory. Those numbers capture a single match rather than guarantee how the return fixture will unfold.
Why Haiti’s home leg was played in Miami
Although Haiti were designated the home team for the first leg, the fixture took place at Nu Stadium in Miami. Concacaf permitted the arrangement because of the security situation in Haiti. The change of location does not alter the aggregate-score format of the quarter-final. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday 17 November at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, with the winner progressing to the Nations League Finals planned for March. Mauricio Pochettino was approaching the end of his tenure in charge of the United States. A large opening advantage creates a favourable position, but the formal outcome of the tie can only be established when the second leg is finished.
Key facts and the next decision
- Final score: Haiti 0, United States 6, with the first leg played in Miami.
- Trusty opened the scoring and Hall scored shortly after half-time.
- Pulisic struck twice, followed by McKennie and Balogun.
- The return match is scheduled for 17 November in Cincinnati.
The six-goal margin is the central new fact of the evening. The identity of the next opponent and progression through the competition cannot be announced from this result alone, even if the Americans have taken a substantial step.
What remains to be confirmed
- The return-leg score and final aggregate result.
- The opponent and dates for any subsequent matches.
- Any squad changes or disciplinary decisions before 17 November.
Source: U.S. Soccer
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