Born in the state of Texas, Francisco Torres is the son of mixed Mexican and American parentage. Recruited early on as a teenager to play for Mexican outfit Pachuca, he eventually broke into the starting line-up in 2008, where he played all three games for the club at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Torres was eligible to play for either USA or Mexico, but when the versatile midfielder turned down the opportunity to play with the Americans at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, it looked as if he was leaning towards lining up for El Tri. However, only a few months after the showpiece event in the Far East, he pledged his loyalty to the United States.
Almost immediately, the 21-year-old player was called into camp by coach Bob Bradley, and he made his full national team debut on 11 October against Cuba. He has become a useful option - usually on the left side of midfield - for USA in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying and was also a part of the squad that reached the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa last year.
