​MIAMI — The U.S. found itself Saturday inside a handsome stadium that usually showcases Lionel Messi, taking instruction from a coach who is abandoning it for Manchester United and playing an away match on home soil because the opponent wasn’t allowed to host. All the peculiarities of the day manifested themselves into a riotous result:USA 6, Haiti 0.In Mauricio Pochettino’s penultimate match before leaving for England, the Americans gave a ruthless performance in the first leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals at Nu Stadium.In his first appearance since the World Cup, Christian Pulisic recorded his first two-goal game for the U.S. in 3 ½ years as the U.S. all but secured its place in the semifinals next spring. The second leg — and Pochettino’s farewell — is Tuesday in Cincinnati.THAT’S ✌️ FOR #️⃣🔟!#USMNT x @VWpic.twitter.com/QMEzNmAtPA— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) November 14, 2026Auston Trusty provided an early lead and the U.S. posted four goals in about 16 minutes of the second half before World Cup star Folarin Balogun applied the finishing touches on the largest victory margin since the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago.Saturday was designated the Haitian home leg, but because of ongoing security issues in Port-au-Prince, the Haitians were forced to play elsewhere. Initially scheduled for Kingston, Jamaica — the venue for Haiti’s two home matches in September — the first leg was moved to Miami to take advantage of the large Haitian diaspora in South Florida.Coming off its first World Cup appearance since 1974 — and with a supportive audience — Haiti saw a massive opportunity to get the upper hand on CONCACAF elite.A three-time champion, the U.S. is seeking its fifth trip to the Nations League semifinals in five attempts. The final four will take place in late March at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles.The Americans were coming off the high of a four-match sweep in the September-October window. Those were friendlies, though. The Nations League is an official competition, with an automatic berth in next summer’s Gold Cup at stake.Pochettino’s roster was incomplete following the injury withdrawals of midfielder Gio Reyna last weekend and right back Sergiño Dest on Thursday. However, with Pulisic, Balogun and Weston McKennie back for the first time since the World Cup, the U.S. possessed the power to get past Haiti.Christian Pulisic made up for lost time Saturday, scoring twice in less than two minutes during the USMNT’s 6-0 rout of Haiti.JC Ruiz via Getty ImagesPulisic and McKennie started but Balogun, who has played sparingly for Monaco this fall after recovering from injury, was on the bench.In Balogun’s place was Julian Hall, the teenager who burst onto the scene earlier this fall with goals in each of his first three appearances. Reyna’s absence opened a spot for Sebastian Berhalter, whose role grew substantially under Pochettino since his debut almost 18