Francisco Castillo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Castillo grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and played for Mayfield High School under coach Arturo Garibay. In 2002, as a sophomore, he was named NSCAA/Adidas High School State Player of the Year. He helped lead Mayfield to two state championship games. He first gained notice from professional teams in 2005 playing for his local club in the Dallas Cup. His team reached the Dallas Cup final for the Super Group but lost 1–0 to Atletico Paranaense of Brazil. Castillo was also a player for the Olympic Development Program regional pool for many years. His younger brother, Noel Castillo, is on the reserve team for Indios de Ciudad Juárez of Mexico.

In Their Own Story

In early August 2007, Mexico coach Hugo Sánchez called-up Castillo for three upcoming friendlies with Colombia, Panama, and Brazil. On August 22, 2007, Castillo made his debut with the Mexico national team, entering at the 53rd minute in the friendly against Colombia. In March 2008 he was a member of the Mexico U-23 squad for the 2008 CONCACAF Men Pre-Olympic Tournament. He was called up by Sven-Göran Eriksson for the 23-man roster but was benched against Honduras on August 20, 2008. On November 12, 2008, he appeared in a friendly against Ecuador in Phoenix, Arizona, replacing Francisco Fonseca as Mexico beat Ecuador 2–1. He was called up again on January 28, 2009, in a friendly against Sweden. Castillo was called up for World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras on March 28 and April 1, 2009, but was unable to travel because he had 'lost' his Mexico passport.

Reader's Guide

Under a change in FIFA regulations, Castillo became eligible to play for the United States. The new rule allowed players of any age to make a one-time national affiliation change if they held citizenship in their new country and had not played in a competitive senior level match for their previous nationality. On June 29, 2009, he said, 'I would play for the United States. I'd want to talk to them first, but I want to play for the U.S. I think it would be a very good opportunity for me, for my career. If they call me I would play for them.' He also said, 'I have made my decision. I want to represent the country where I was born, the place where I live.' In September 2009, FIFA cleared him to join the U.S. national team. On October 31, 2009, Castillo revealed to Mexican media after a Tigres UANL match vs Estudiantes Tecos that he had received a call earlier that day and stated 'I was called up for training with the U.S. team and I am expected to appear to play against Denmark....I'm hoping to give a good impression.' Castillo made his U.S. debut as a second-half sub in a friendly against Denmark on November 18, 2009, which they lost. He became the second player to earn caps for both Mexico and the United States, joining Martín Vásquez. Castillo's decision triggered a strongly negative response from Mexican fans. 'When I changed to the U.S. national team, it was a hard time for me because people called me a traitor and stuff like that,' Castillo remarked. He further stated, 'It's a big priority,' Castillo said of playing for the United States. 'I was born in the U.S.[....] I've played a lot in Mexico because Mexico has been treating me good, I changed to the U.S. national team and I think I made a good choice.' Castillo was later recalled to the USMNT under new head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and started against Mexico on August 10, 2011.

Did You Know?

• Castillo is one of seven players to earn a senior cap for both the United States and Mexico national teams.
• He scored his first goal for Tigres UANL against his former side, Santos Laguna, on August 30, 2009.
• Castillo was unable to travel to World Cup qualifiers in March and April 2009 because he had 'lost' his Mexico passport.
• He made his U.S. debut as a second-half sub in a friendly against Denmark on November 18, 2009.
• Castillo's younger brother, Noel Castillo, is on the reserve team for Indios de Ciudad Juárez of Mexico.