De La Torre, a native of San Diego who began his soccer journey in youth clubs such as the San Diego Nomads and San Diego Surf, expresses his delight in living out his dream as a player for the newly formed MLS team. “I hope that we can showcase an attractive style of play and emerge victorious,” De La Torre remarked. His professional experience includes stints at Fulham in the English Premier League, Heracles Almelo in the Netherlands, and Celta de Vigo in Spain’s La Liga. “Ultimately, it falls on us to pack the stadium, create those unforgettable moments that draw people in, and evoke emotions in the fans,” he added.
At the helm of San Diego FC is Mohamed Mansour, 77, who serves as the majority owner and chairman. A prominent figure in the business world, Mansour is the chairman of Mansour Group and the founder and chairman of Man Capital. Additionally, he is the owner of the Right to Dream network, which comprises youth academies in Ghana, Egypt, Denmark, and San Diego. Forbes estimates Mansour’s net worth to be $3.3 billion. Noteworthy figures such as San Diego Padres All-Star Manny Machado, World Cup champion Juan Mata, actress Issa Rae, Nigerian songstress Tems, and retired U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink are also part of the ownership group of San Diego FC.
In their recent exhibition matches at the Coachella Valley Invitational earlier this month, San Diego FC recorded mixed results. They suffered a 3-1 defeat against New York City FC on Feb. 8, a 3-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on Feb. 12, and a resounding 6-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls, the MLS Cup runner-up, on Feb. 15. Reflecting on the team’s progress, De La Torre noted, “We have made significant improvements throughout the friendlies, culminating in a strong performance in the last match. The coaches have been introducing valuable ideas that the players have embraced, and our fitness levels are on the rise. We are well-prepared and eager to kick off the season.”
Following their inaugural match, San Diego FC will host their first home game on March 1 against St. Louis City SC at Snapdragon Stadium. Historically, only one of the six previous MLS expansion teams emerged victorious in their debut match, with St. Louis achieving this milestone in 2023. “It is an incredibly exciting time, and we are eagerly anticipating the official commencement of league play,” added Varas.
This article was originally featured in USA TODAY: New MLS team: How to watch San Diego FC debut Sunday vs LA Galaxy
