Houston Dynamo FC is set to face fierce Texas rivals Austin FC in a highly anticipated Matchday 10 Walmart Saturday Showdown. The clash, featuring Austin FC's elite attacker Facundo Torres, will take place at Q2 Stadium at 8:30 pm ET, broadcast on Apple TV. Torres, a key dangerman for the Verde & Black, brings a unique backstory to this intense rivalry match.

Before becoming one of Major League Soccer’s top playmakers, Facundo Torres showed little interest in football as a child. His father, Jorge Torres, frequently recounts how young Facu preferred playing with dirt rather than engaging in the sport that would later define his career. This early indifference is a memorable part of the family's history.

Jorge Torres shared with a Uruguayan outlet in 2020, when his son broke into Peñarol's senior team, that Facundo "didn’t like it; he used to play with dirt." He would make "little mounds in the middle of the field or go with his mother to fetch water," leading his father to believe he wouldn't take to soccer.

Facundo himself, now an MLS star, recalls these early days with a chuckle. He was barely three years old when his father first took him to a practice session. "Soccer had never really caught my interest," Torres explained, noting that the last thing he did at that first session was actually play soccer.

Despite this initial reluctance, Torres eventually developed a profound passion for the game. His journey from a distracted toddler to a pivotal player for Austin FC highlights a remarkable transformation. Now, he stands as a crucial figure in the upcoming derby against Houston Dynamo FC.

The rivalry between Houston Dynamo FC and Austin FC is always a highlight of the MLS season, and this Matchday 10 encounter promises to be no different. With Facundo Torres in top form, the Dynamo will need to be at their best to secure a vital victory against their Texan counterparts.