Australia-born forward Ryan Williams has been named in India’s 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C clash against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 18 November, marking a potential milestone in Indian football.
Indian Football shared a post on X featuring Williams, who travelled with the team to Dhaka on Saturday, proudly displaying his new Indian passport with the caption:
“First stamp on the new passport.”
Williams, who recently secured his Indian passport after surrendering his Australian citizenship, is poised to become the first overseas-born player to represent India under such circumstances.
The 31-year-old Bengaluru FC winger—born in Perth to an Anglo-Indian mother from Mumbai—has spent more than a year navigating the citizenship process.
Although selected, Williams’ place in the matchday squad remains conditional. He will travel with the Blue Tigers to Bangladesh, but his final clearance depends on receiving a No-Objection Certificate from Football Australia, followed by approvals from FIFA and the AFC.
The squad announcement caps two weeks of preparation, with the team having camped in Bengaluru since 6 November.
Williams previously represented Australia at under-20, under-23, and senior levels, earning one senior cap in a 2019 friendly against South Korea. His club career has included stints with Fulham and Portsmouth before joining Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League in 2023.
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