In a major step that could reshape Indian football’s future, former Australia international Ryan Williams has been called up to the Indian national team camp ahead of this month’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh — marking the first time an overseas-born player who surrendered foreign citizenship could don India’s colours.
The 31-year-old Bengaluru FC winger, born in Perth to an Anglo-Indian mother from Mumbai, has been in the process of obtaining Indian citizenship for over a year.
Williams told the ToI, “When something feels right, you have to go for it.”
“The police had never seen someone coming in and handing over their Aussie passport.”
According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), only a few formalities remain before his inclusion in the squad is made official.
Williams represented Australia at the under-20, under-23, and senior levels, earning his lone senior cap in a friendly against South Korea in 2019. He has also played for English clubs Fulham and Portsmouth before joining Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC in 2023.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that Indian captain Sunil Chhetri first brought Williams’ case to his attention during a national camp in Kolkata earlier this year.
“Sunil Chhetri gave the first information about Ryan Williams, who wanted to play for India by giving up his Australian passport. From then on, the process started,” Chaubey told PTI.
The AIFF, with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, helped fast-track the complex documentation process that involved multiple government clearances.
“It’s a collective effort for expediting Ryan Williams’ passport process, which usually takes a lot of time,” Chaubey said, acknowledging the ministry’s role.
Williams’ selection signals a new and inclusive phase for Indian football, as the AIFF actively scouts Indian-origin and foreign-born players ready to commit to representing India. If cleared, he will join the squad in Dhaka for the 18 November qualifier — potentially becoming the first player to represent India after renouncing another nation’s citizenship.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
