Having refereed in FIFA since January 1, 1996, Batres conducted his first international match on October 27, 1996, a 1998 World Cup qualifier between Panama and Canada.
On June 13, 2010, he refereed the match between Algeria and Slovenia,[5] even though his mother had died barely four days before, on the night of June 9.[6]
On June 20, 2010, he refereed the match between Italy and New Zealand, which ended in a 1–1 draw.[7]